ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / June 13, 2012) – Philippine gunmen holding two Chinese iron ore traders in Mindanao were demanding $5 million for the release of the foreigners.
Police said the kidnappers are holding Jampong Lin-Yuankai, 38, and Jian Luo, 48. Both were seized from their rented apartment in the town of Kabasalan in Zamboanga Sibugay province on June 4 and police linked a notorious bandit leader Wanning Abdusallam to the kidnappings.
Abdusallam was also implicated in the kidnapping in December of Australian national Warren Rodwell in the seaside town of Ipil near Kabasalan and handed him over to the militant group Abu Sayyaf in Basilan province.
Kabasalan Mayor George Cainglet was also quoted by Philippine media as saying that the kidnappers relayed their demand to the families of the two Chinese hostages.
Chief Superintendent Manuel Barcena, head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations for Western Mindanao, said the two Chinese men are natives of Guangdong province and are engaged in buying and selling of manganese and other minerals.
They have been living in Kabasalan town since last year. (Mindanao Examiner)
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