4 killed, couple kidnapped in Zambo del Norte

ZAMBOANGA CITY – At least four persons were killed when unidentified gunmen kidnapped a business couple yesterday in a village of Sirawai town, Zamboanga del Norte, a security official said.

Chief Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo, deputy director of Police Regional Office 9, said armed men initially kidnapped Roco and Elen Roda, both residents of Barangay Piakan, at about 5 p.m  in Sirawai town.

The gunmen barged into the residence of the victims and forcibly took them, De Ocampo said, quoting reports from the Zamboanga del Norte provincial police office.

He said a neighbor of the victims, a member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit, tried to rescue the couple but was killed in a brief exchange of gunfire.

The police official said three other villagers were killed by the suspects as they   escaped.

 De Ocampo said pursuit operations were ongoing to rescue the couple.

The coast guard station in this city deployed its two rigid hull inflatable boats for special operations to assist police and military forces.