ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Six men believed to have links with the kidnappers of a woman taken in Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay on Tuesday surrendered to police and military operatives during search and rescue operations on Friday.
Esmael Cader, Abbas Kinawalan, Leden Abbas, Omar Abdurahim and Esmael and Aloy, both surnamed Pangilan, turned over a Garand and three M14 rifles, two shotguns, a caliber .45 pistol and several rounds of ammunition, Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, Zamboanga peninsula police director, said yesterday.
Beltran said personnel of the 903rd Regional Mobile Force and 44th Infantry Battalions (IB) were pursuing the captors of Laarni Buen in Barangay Sinusayan when the gunmen, accompanied by barangay chairman Ibrahim Abbas, emerged.
The surrenderees are being investigated to determine their participation in Buen’s kidnapping.
Buen, 38, a native of Bicol and secretary of Celebes Marine Product, was snatched by seven men who barged into her boarding house in Purok Maabiabihon, Barangay Poblacion at about 6:30 p.m.
Police said the kidnappers have yet to contact the family or the employer of the victim.
The Philippine Coast Guard, Naval Forces Western Mindanao and Regional Mobile Force Company 9 are helping the Malangas police and 44th IB in search and rescue operations.