The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday, Sept. 16, that it has rescued a man who was allegedly abducted by armed suspects in Al-Barka, Basilan.
PNP Chief, Police Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said the male victim, whose identity was withheld for security reasons, was found alone in a safe house in Al-Barka on Thursday after he was abandoned by his abductors.
He was found by a joint teacker team from Ungkaya Pukan Municipal Police Station (MPS); Tipo-Tipo MPS, and 64th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
Azurin said the victim was abducted by around 10 armed men in his residence in Brgy. Bohe Piang, Al-Barka, Basilan last Wednesday.
The victim underwent physical examination and debriefing procedure.
Meanwhile, an armed Chinese man and his Filipina companion were held by the police in Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City, Pampanga on the wee hours of Thursday.
Elements of the PNP - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) collared Xiong Gang, 35, and Nete Joy Juanico, 28, while the lawmen were conducting casing and surveillance operations to solve the successive kidnappings in Clark Freeport Zone during the past months.
Police Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, acting director of PNP-CIDG, said the suspects were onboard a metallic blue Toyota Sedan with plate number DCA 8843 when they were intercepted by the Clark Development Corporation Police around 1:30 a.m.
According to Lee, Gang and Juanico were "acting suspiciously" when they were told by the cops to lower their car windows.
When the suspects complied, Lee said the police spotted in plain sight a pistol grip beside the driver’s seat.
A further search of the vehicle resulted to the discovery of a 9mm Daewoo pistol with silencer and a fully loaded magazine, a black airsoft pistol, a pair of handcuffs, and an Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) ID under the name "Xiong Gang."