Armed men kidnapped a British man and his Filipino wife in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur on Friday night, October 4.
Tukuran Vice Mayor Delfina Cortina confirmed the incident that happened past 6 p.m. after the couple arrived at the resort they owned at Barangay Alindahaw in Tukuran.
Tukuran police identified the victims as Allan Arthur Hyrons, 70, and his wife, Welma Paglinawan Hyrons, who is a businesswoman.
A witness, a resort staff, testified four (4) armed men abducted the couple to pump boats and then escaped to different directions. One is going to Pagadian, and the other is going to Lanao del Norte.
“Nakita ko sina sir na may lumapit na isang tao.Nagtataka nalang ako kung bakit nila hinila-hila yung amo ko. Pagkatapos may dumating na tatlong katao at dinala nila si sir.Kaya tinawag ko yung mister ko.Sabi ko tulungan nyo si sir kasi pinagtulungan ng mga tao,” said the witness.
(I saw someone coming. I wondered why they are dragging my boss. Then three others came and took sir. That’s why I called my husband. I told him help sir because the four men were taking him.”
According to Police Chief Master Sergeant Oliver Cimafrancalice, two of the abductors even checked-in to the resort the day before the kidnapping.
“Ang sinabi ng mga caretaker na may dalawang katao na nagcheck-in kahapon.Hindi nila nakilala.Hindi rin nila iniisip na mga kidnapper yun,” said Cimafranca.
(The caretakers said that two people checked in yesterday. They didn’t know. They didn’t even think they were kidnappers.)
The British man and Filipino wife that was kidnapped own several businesses, including a school in Zamboanga del Sur.
The Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines were already in hot pursuit operations.
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