ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/24 February) – The son of a Filipino-Chinese businessman who was kidnapped almost four months ago in the province of Zamboanga del Norte has been freed after his family “allegedly paid” P600,000 in ransom, a police official today said.
Zamboanga del Sur police director Senior Supt. Jose Bayani Gucela disclosed the victim was released around 1:04 a.m. Wednesday in Molave town, Zamboanga del Sur.
Released was Franc Oliver Lim, 32, the son of Frank Lim, who owns the Fresh Harvest Farm located in Barangay Gulayon, Dipolog City, the capital of Zamboanga del Norte province.
Gucela said Lim was picked up by a relative identified only as Wendel after the kidnappers dropped off the victim in front of the Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative office in Molave.
After he picking up Lim, Wendel brought the victim to the police authorities for debriefing, Gucela said.
He attributed Lim’s release to the efforts by the police and military in close coordination with the victim’s family.
He said the police and military continuously tracked down the whereabouts of Lim while the family handled the negotiations for the safe release of the victim.
“Allegedly, the family of the victim paid the amount of P600,000 to the kidnappers,” Gucela said in his report.
The kidnappers, whose identities were not revealed by Gucela, seized Lim around 10:00 a.m. of October 27, 2011 as he was about to enter the gate of their farmland in Barangay Gulayon, Dipolog City. (MindaNews)