TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat -- Police authorities have launched operations to rescue a three-year old boy who was abducted on Thursday, Oct. 27, by four unidentified armed men at their residence in Barangay Tina, this city.
PLt. Col. Joan Maganto, Tacurong City police chief, identified the victim as Devione Prime Arriola who was seized by the suspects who barged inside their residence at around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Police said the victim was forcibly taken away by the suspects aboard an L300 van.
The victim’s parents, who both work as government nurses, told police that an unidentified caller had later called them and demanded ransom for the safe release of the victim.
Maganto said police investigators are closely coordinating with the victim’s family to ensure the safety of the victim while rescue operation is being undertaken.
Authorities said the reported kidnapping incident was the first in the past decade.
Members of the kidnap-for-ransom group, mostly belonging to the rogue Moro rebel group, have been operating in Sultan Kudarat province and nearby Maguindanao and South Cotabato.