1 trader abducted, another rescued in Mindanao

Unfazed by the presence of soldiers and policemen positioned in strategic spots all over Cotabato City, suspected members of the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang snatched a Chinese trader at around 7:30 a.m.yesterday, the second kidnapping incident in the city in one month.

Meanwhile, in Butuan, a 33-year-old Filipino-Chinese businessman was rescued by policemen after reportedly paying P380,000 in ransom money last Wednesday.

Lt. Col. George Lomboy, commander of the Army’s anti-crime Task Group Cotabato, identified the Cotabato Chinese trader as Benny Cota, whom he said was abducted by motorcycle-riding men shortly after he left his house at the Notre Dame District here.

Cota is a large-scale distributor of office supplies.

"Our operatives are now helping members of the police run after the kidnappers," Lomboy said.

Meanwhile the rescued trader in Butuan was identified as Donald Chiu Tan, a resident of Subangdaku, Mandaue City, Cebu. He reached Butuan City by hitching a ride on a ten-wheeler truck from Davao where he was released by his abductors.

Tan told the Caraga police that he was kidnapped by three armed men in Subangdaku, Mandaue City last April 1 and was brought to Davao City via motorboat by his kidnappers.