Japanese abducted in Surigao del Sur

BUTUAN CITY — A Japanese national was abducted Thursday evening in Barangay Bunga, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, according to a report reaching the Caraga police Regional Office from Lanuza police yesterday.

Authorities identified the abducted Japanese national as a certain Hazumitzu Hashiba, 48, married and temporarily residing at said place.

A neighbor of Hashiba, a certain Vicente Lopio, reported to Lanuza police that the foreigner was abducted by five unidentified men wearing bonnets armed with short firearms at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday inside his rented home.

The suspects, dragging along their victim, fled using the victim’s Toyota Corolla car towards Surigao City some 155 kilometers from Lanuza.

Surigao del Norte police recovered the getaway car in Sison, Surigao del Norte Friday afternoon, some 139 kilometers away from the crime scene.

Caraga police regional director Chief Supt. Alberto Rama Olario immediately ordered anti-crime team, Task Force Racer to rescue the Japanese national from his abductors.

Surigao del Sur police Provincial Director Julian Delicona told The STAR that as of 6 p.m. yesterday, joint police teams were still conducting manhunt operations against the kidnappers of Hashiba.

Delicona said they had already identified some of the five suspected kidnappers but refused to name them so as not to hamper their manhunt operations.

The kidnappers are believed to be still hiding in the Caraga Region.

Hashiba’s kidnapping is the first-ever to take place in the region, one of the most peaceful in the country today.