Abus demand P30-M ransom for trader, child
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group demanded P30 million in exchange for the release of a Chinese businesswoman and her daughter, snatched last week in Isabela City, Basilan, security officials said yesterday.
The ransom demand was intercepted by the Task Force Dalby, which was formed to handle the safe recovery of Dina Lim Eraham, 45, and her 19-year-old daughter Yahong Lim Tan, said Senior Inspector Joseph Ortega, spokesman for the Police Regional Office 9.
The victims were snatched at their karaoke bar in Isabela City by at least 10 armed men in camouflage uniforms Thursday night. The gunmen took the victims on two pumpboats and escaped toward Malamawi Island off Isabela City.
The ransom demand was reportedly relayed by the kidnappers to the victims’ family through a cell phone call on Saturday.
Authorities did not say whether the kidnappers imposed a deadline for the payment of the ransom.
Ortega said the Isabela City police has yet to identify the leader of the kidnappers, although one of them was identified through a police sketch.
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