ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/05 September) – Gunmen believed to be members of a kidnap-for-ransom group seized a Filipina married to a Scottish national in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, a military official disclosed Monday.
Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesperson, identified the victim as Luisa Galvez Morrison, 34, the owner of RL Salon and a resident of Nizorecom Subdivision, Barangay Magdaup, Ipil municipality.
Cabangbang said the incident took place past 7 p.m. Sunday in Barangay Poblacion, Ipil, the capital of Zamboanga Sibugay.
He said the gunmen forced the victim to board a yellow multi-cab which they used as their getaway vehicle.
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Pursuing troops found the multi-cab already burned in Bangkerohan, a coastal village in Ipil, Cabangbang said.
Citing information relayed by the troops, he said the kidnappers fled towards Barangay Katipunan of the same town after setting the vehicle on fire.
The military official said they have yet to establish the identity of the group that abducted Morrison.
Military and police units are tracking down the kidnappers and their victim, he said.
Sunday’s incident has brought to two the number of kidnap victims from Zamboanga Sibugay who are still in the hands of kidnappers.
The other victim is a nine-year-old boy, Randelle Talania of Barangay Namnama, Titay town.
Kidnappers seized Talania last March 9 outside the Namnama Elementary School while he was on his way home. (MindaNews)