Canadian shot in rob

A Canadian national was shot and wounded by six ski mask-wearing robbers in Lila, Bohol last Saturday night, a belated report reaching Camp Crame said.

The victim, John Victor Johnson, 66, sustained a gunshot wound in the abdomen, the report said.

The robbers, police said, barged into Johnson’s house in Barangay Malinao East, Lila town at about 8:45 p.m. as his son-in-law, Samuel Abis, went out to check why the dogs were barking.

Once inside, the robbers shot Johnson and tied up members of his family. They left with P40,000 in cash, two video machines, a jacket, pairs of pants and three cameras.

Lila policemen tried to pursue the robbers but failed, the report said.

In Davao City, meanwhile, another Canadian, Pierre Belanguer, 50, is set to leave the country to recover from his traumatic, 40-day experience in the hands of kidnappers.

But Belanguer said he still wants to return to the country despite his sad ordeal. He is married to a Filipina with whom he has three children.

Belanguer was abducted last Nov. 3 while reportedly attending a birthday party at Liling beach in Barangay Balutakay, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur.

He has been a resident of Barangay Balutakay for eight years. His brother Richard belongs to the Sacred Heart Brothers congregation which runs the Cor Jesus College in Digos City.

Belanguer said he was drugged during the party, causing him to be unconscious and enabling his captors to bring him to Sitio Moros, Barangay Buenavista in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

Two of his abductors were killed when a joint police-military team swooped down on their hideout last Dec. 23.

Authorities believe that Belanguer’s captors do not belong to any large-scale kidnap-for-ransom gang. — With Edith Regalado