4 armed men kidnap Fil-Am in Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte
Sirawai Municipal Police Station Chief Maj. Matinong identified the victim as Rex Triplet, 64 years old, married, a half Filipino-American and a resident of Barangay Piacan in Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte.
Matinong said Triplet and his wife Celsa Maani Triplet, 23, were on board a black XRM motorcycle on their way home to Piacan when they were waylaid by four armed men wearing camouflage uniforms.
The four armed men were armed with an M203 automatic rifle and three short firearms, local residents who witnessed the incident said.
Initial investigation disclosed that the four-armed men forcibly took Triplet while his wife managed to escape and seek help from barangay officials of Barangay Tapanayan.
The suspects reportedly dragged the victim towards the hinterland of Barangay Tapanayan in Sirawai.
Lt. Roy Malayo, deputy chief of Sirawai police immediately proceeded to the area of the incident and ordered a hot pursuit operation against the suspects.
According to reports, the police are still identifying the group behind the kidnapping incident.
