-
ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/02 July) – The police are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the abduction of a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) inside a shopping mall in Pagadian City.
Senior Supt. Sofronio Ecaldre, Zamboanga del Sur police director, reported that at the same time efforts are underway to locate the victim’s whereabouts.
Pebelyn Bertulfo, 38, a resident of Barangay Gumahan, Josefina, Zamboanga del Sur was reportedly abducted around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday inside a shopping mall.
Ecaldre said the victim, together with her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, had been temporarily staying at a hotel in Pagadian City since last June 18 while waiting for her scheduled caesarian operation.
Bertulfo, together with her brother-in-law Arnulfo, went to the shopping mall to buy things she needed for her scheduled operation, Ecaldre said.
The police chief added that Arnulfo went out of the shopping mall briefly, leaving Bertulfo alone. He could no longer find her upon his return.
Ecaldre said Arnulfo rushed to the Pagadian City Police Station to seek police assistance after he received a text from his sister-in-law asking for help. The text from Bertulfo, Arnulfo said, was brief: “Blue van, tabang (help).”
The police official said that so far no one has yet claimed responsibility on the incident.