Kidnapped Zambo businessman freed

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Businessman Rainier William Jones Clemente, 47, proprietor of Prestige Lending here, was released Saturday allegedly without ransom after 18 days in captivity.

Clemente was freed along the beach at Boulevard, just near the former police regional headquarters of Recom 9.

Senior Inspector Hado Edding, Sta. Maria Police commander, who is handling the case reported that the release of the victim was kept secret by the family and was only revealed after Clemente’s secretary reported the incident.

A police team was sent to the victim’s house, but the family refused to face the authorities and shed light on the release of the captive, who was immediately flown to Manila.

According to Edding, while they have cartographic sketches of the suspects, they cannot verify the identities because the victim’s family refused to cooperate.

There are unconfirmed reports that the victim allegedly paid P3.8 million in exchange for his safe release.

However, Bong Clemente, a brother of the victim, vehemently denied the rumors in a statement.