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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Armed group abducts 3 persons in Pitogo town

By Gideon C. Corgue

PITOGO, Zamboanga del Sur – Three persons  were reportedly abducted Tuesday afternoon at the fish port in barangay Poblacion here.

P/Inspector Mario Regidor in an interview over dxPR radio station in Pagadian City said the victims were identified as Zynielle Jay Garban, 2, Ace Jay Garban, 3, and Ledegie Tomarong, 17 years old.

Zynielle Jay and Ace Jay are grandchildren of Punong Barangay Jiejie Garban, while Tomarong, a cashier of bakeshop owned by Chzarenia Kapa-Sajulga.

Regidor said 10 unidentified armed men riding two motorized pump boats docked at the fish port. They proceeded to the bakeshop owned by Sajulga and attempted to abduct her but failed, as she was able to run inside the room and lock herself.

“The suspects tried to open the door by firing at the door knob that caused alarm to the public in the area,” Sajulga added.

“The suspects returned to their pump boats without their target and we immediately responded to the incident and an encounter with the armed group ensued,” Regidor said.

“As we exchanged fires with the suspects, they forcibly took the victims who were at the fish port and used them as human shields,” he added.

The police are now conducting manhunt operations against the suspects in the in vicinity of Yllana Bay for the safe recovery of victims.

As of press time, the police have yet to ascertain the exact location of suspects.