Kidnappers of Pagadian businessman demand 500T Ransom

A kidnapped victim Dong Lee Tan

37 years old is still at the custody

of his captors.

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR (October 6, 2013) – The kidnappers of Pagadian City businessman demanded ransom after he was kidnapped by still unidentified armed men in Aurora town, Zamboanga del Sur at about 4:00 o’clock this afternoon on October 5, 2013.

Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Director PSSupt. Sofronio Palana Ecaldre identified the kidnapped victim as Dong Lee Tan 37 years old, a rice wholesaler and retailer at Agora, this city and a resident of Barangay Sto. Niño, Pagadian City.

PNP Operatives who conducted a hot pursuit operation recovered the vehicle of the victim a Suzuki color black Mini Van somewhere in Barangay Eastern Bobongan, Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur some 20 kilometers east from Aurora at about 6:45 this evening.

Initial investigation said, the victim left his residence for Aurora at 12:00 o’clock noon to follow-up deliveries of rice and to settle some of his business account. The wife of the victim was able to contact her husband at about 1:00 o’clock pm to confirm that he is in Aurora town. The second contact to her husband was on 3:00 o’clock pm but the number of cellular phone is already cannot be reached.      

The kidnappers using the victim’s mobile phone contacted to the wife that they kidnapped the victim and demanding to P5 Million for ransom.

The demand was also confirmed by PD PSSupt. Ecaldre but he denied the amount P5 Million instead it is only P500 thousand.

There were reports that the kidnappers were belong to the Kidnapped for Ransom Group (KFR) operating in Lanao del Sur where the victim might be already in the area but PD PSSupt. Ecaldre did not confirmed the reports.

As of the press time, the joint hot pursuit operations are being conducted by the Philippine National Police and the army of the First Infantry (Tabak) Division trucking against the fleeing suspects bringing with them the victim.