MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 29 (PIA) --- Gunmen have freed over the weekend the couple they kidnapped in Lanao del Norte province without any paid ransom, an army official said on Monday.
Col. Daniel Lucero, Commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army, said the immediate and safe release of Atty. Poroa Botawan Sangcaan and his wife Bairah Datumanong Sangcaan, last March 26 without any paid ransom, was facilitated by elements of his unit based in Kampo Ranao, this city.
Initial police investigation disclosed that the victims were abducted last March 23, at about 3:30PM in Brgy. Kalanganan, Pantar, Lanao del Norte onboard their green Toyota Adventure bearing the plate WEZ-656.
They were on their way to attend a gathering (Kandori) in the said town when flagged down and forcibly taken by four (4) armed men.
Further investigation also revealed that the suspects identified as Arpa Alim Gumpal, a.k.a. Arafat, Farouk Alim Gumpal, a.k.a. Froxy, Odeng Gumpal and Lucman Gumpal, a.k.a. Lucky handed down the victims to a kidnap-for-ransom group who demanded a sum of Php1.5M ransom.
“Troops from the 103rd Brigade and the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office (LSPPO) were on reconnaissance patrol when they chanced upon some residents in Barangay Mamaan in Piagapo town and revealed about the presence of the kidnapped victims in their barangay,” said Lucero.
He further said that a warning was sent to the kidnappers that police and army troops will proceed to the area if the victims will not be released immediately.
Lucero also disclosed that the couple was kidnapped to force them to settle their debts to their abductors.
The 57-year old Sangcaan is the legal officer of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in Iligan City while his 53-year old wife is a public school teacher. The couple resides in Barangay Marawi Poblacion, this city.
According to LSPPO and the victims, a case will be filed against the kidnappers, he added. (Apipa Bagumbaran/PIA-10 Marawi)
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