PAGADIAN CITY – Gunmen seized a British man and his Filipina wife at their beach resort in the town of Tukuran in Zamboanga del Sur province in the restive southern region of Mindanao, police said on Saturday.
Police said the 70-year old Allan Arthur Hyrons and Welma Paglinawan Hyrons were forcibly taken by six gunmen on Friday evening shortly after the couple arrived at the resort in Alindahaw village. The abductors dragged away the duo to the sea where a motorized boat was waiting and then escaped under cover of darkness.
“Two of the suspects checked-in at Hyrons Resort and upon the arrival of the victims at the resort, four men at gunpoint forcibly brought them to the beach front where two armed suspects manned a motor boat,” said Major Helen Galvez, a regional police spokeswoman.
“We are exhausting all resources, mobilizing all forces and coordinating with the military counterpart to include the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to help in rescue operation,” she added.
Police provided no other details about the foreigner or how long he has been staying in the province. The British embassy also did not release any statement on the abduction of its citizen.
A caretaker at the resort has confirmed that two of the suspects rented a cottage room. Aside from the resort, the couple also owns the Hyrons College in the town.
Provincial Governor Victor Yu pledged to give P1 million reward to anyone who could point the exact location of the abductors.
No individual or group claimed responsibility for the abduction of the Hyrons, but this occurred during an extended martial law in the region where security forces are battling Muslim extremist groups and communist rebels. (Zamboanga Post)
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