ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Authorities are eyeing Abu Sayyaf henchmen behind the kidnapping of a businessman in a west coast village of this city Friday night.
This developed as the local crisis management committee yesterday activated a task force to oversee the investigation into the kidnapping of Edgar Favella alias Eddie, 52, a restaurant and trucking owner.
Favella was seized by five gunmen at 7 p.m. inside his eatery.
Mayor Celso Lobregat said the police released the artist’s sketch of one of the suspects based on the accounts of the victim’s brother, Felipe, who witnessed the incident.
Felipe said the suspects beat up his brother before they dragged him to a pump boat then fled.
Police said the kidnappers have yet to contact Favella’s family.
City police director Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo said intelligence units have been dispatched to track down the suspects as well as the victim’s whereabouts.