ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Kidnappers believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf group demanded a P30-million ransom in exchange for the safe release of the Chinese businesswoman and her daughter abducted last week in Isabela City, Basilan.
Senior Inspector Joseph Ortega, spokesman of the Police Regional Office(PRO) 9, said the ransom demand was intercepted by the Task Force Dalby, formed for the safe rescue of the victims Dina Lim Eraham (not Iraham as earlier reported), 45, and her 19-year old daughter Yahong Lim Tan.
The two victims were inside their karaoke house named Dalby near the port area in downtown Isabela City when gunmen in camouflage uniforms barged in Thursday night and seized them before the presence of stunned customers and helpers.
The victims were taken by the suspects on board on two pumpboats powered by high-speed engines that initially went toward Malamawi Island off Isabela City.
The demand was reportedly relayed last Saturday by the kidnappers to the family of the victims through a cellphone call.
Authorities said that it was not specified by the kidnappers whether the deadline was imposed for the payment of the ransom in exchange for the release of the victims.
Ortega said the Isabela City Police Station under Superintendent Albert Larubis has not identified yet the leader of the 10-man kidnap group but one of the gunmen was identified through a computer-generated sketch.