Google Maps of Labangan town in Zamboanga del Sur province in Southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)
PAGADIAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 27, 2013) – Kidnappers on Wednesday have seized a 28-year old man in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur and demanded ransom in exchange for his freedom, police said.
Police said Edmund Corpuz was seized in the village of Dalapang in Labangan town. Corpuz was originally reported missing by his family until kidnappers contacted them to demand ransom.
No further details were released by the police about the latest kidnapping incident.
It was not immediately known how much ransom the kidnappers were demanding, but police have ordered commanders in the region to tighten their security to prevent future kidnappings for ransom.
“You are all directed to enhance target hardening measures to preclude further occurrence of serious incidents in your area of responsibility. The fast coming yuletide season will surely bring about increase in lawlessness and other forms of criminality, hence, serious implementation of all police operation plans must be done,” reads a police order sent to commanders in western Mindanao.
Corpuz’s kidnapping came a day following the safe release of a kidnapped Chinese-Filipino trader Robert Cua and Filipino engineer Edwin dela Torre in Iligan City also in southern Philippines.
The duo was seized by gunmen earlier in November in Lanao del Norte’s Linamon town where Cua runs a lumber yard. It was not immediately known how much ransom was paid by Cua’s family to the kidnappers. (Mindanao Examiner)
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