Zamboanga del Sur provincial government offered a P1-million reward for anyone who could give information that would lead to the arrest of the British national and Filipino wife kidnappers.
“The provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur is exhausting all measures to rescue the lives of the Hyrons couple who were abducted by unidentified gunmen at their resort in Tukuran on Friday night,” the province said in a statement.
Four armed men abducted Allan Arthur Hyrons, 70, and his wife, Welma Paglinawan Hyrons, at the resort they owned in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur on Friday night, October 4.
The British national is a dual citizen and has been living in the province since 2013 with his Filipino wife.
Police spokesperson Maj Helen Galvez said the couple owned businesses in Tukuran, including a school.
“They own a lot of properties and business, so they are always moving. The suspects waited for the victims to arrive at the resort,” Galvez said.
According to Tukuran Mayor Macario Tingson, he already warned the couple earlier to be more vigilant.
Capt Clint Antipala, a local military spokesperson, said the military already coordinated hot pursuit operations to rescue the British national and Filipina wife and arrest the kidnappers.
Authorities are yet to identify the group behind the kidnapping incident.
President Rodrigo Duterte warned foreigners to stay out of the Zamboanga region since he received a credible intelligence report that Islamic State (IS) and Abu Sayyaf terrorist groups target the area.
Also read: British man, Filipino wife kidnapped in Zamboanga del Sur