Zambo village chief, trader seized

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A barangay captain and an owner of a fishing company were kidnapped in separate incidents in Zamboanga peninsula Thursday night, security officials said yesterday. 

The victims were identified as Cecilia Alas-as, village chief  in Barangay Paniran in Sibuco town, Zamboanga del Norte and Cynthia Caboverde, 50, a resident of Barangay Magdaop in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Senior Inspector Darwin Asaali, Sibuco police chief, said at least three armed men took Alas-as from her residence at around 10 p.m. He said the suspects took the victim into a waiting pump boat and fled toward Barangay Labuan in this city.

Caboverde and her husband were riding their mini truck when flagged down by armed men. The suspects also  took the P800,000 cash the couple were carrying before taking Caboverde.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman for Police Regional Office-9 said one of the gunmen who took Caboverde has been arrested.

A manhunt for the other suspects is ongoing.

The kidnappings brought to nine the number of persons still in the hands of various syndicates in Sulu and the Zamboanga peninsula.

The seven others are Europeans Elwold Horn and Lorenzo Vinceguerre, independent filmmakers Nadjoua and Linda Bansil, telecommunication technician Dennis Aloba and his escort Nasri Abubakar and provincial treasurer Jess Cabelin.