British trader, Pinay wife kidnapped in Zamboanga del Sur

 Allan Hyrons, 70, and his wife Wilma were seized at Hyrons Beach Resort, which the couple own, in Baran­gay Alindahaw at around 6:50 p.m., Maj. Helen Galvez, Zamboanga peninsula police spokesperson, said.

The victims reportedly own several other businesses, in­cluding a school, also in Tu­kuran.

Two of the suspects report­edly checked in at the resort on Thursday.

“When the victims arrived... the suspects pointed a gun at them and dragged them to the other side of the beach where two motorized boats were waiting,” Galvez said.

She said they received re­ports that one of the motorized boats, which was carrying the couple, was headed toward Lanao del Norte. The other motorboat reportedly sailed toward Pagadian City.

Capt. Clint Antipala, First Infantry Division public affairs officer, said military units were alerted to locate the kidnap­pers and rescue the victims.

Col. Leonel Nicolas of the 102nd Army Brigade said his men are coordinating with the police in the area where the victims were believed brought.

The police and military also sought the assistance of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

No leads

Maj. Arvin Encinas, West­ern Mindanao Command spokesman, said no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

A military official said it is possible that the victims are being held separately or individually in mainland Zam­boanga.

“Time is of the essence. The perpetrators must be immed­itely identified and tracked down before they could trans­fer the couple for a fee to the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan or Sulu,” the official, who refused to be identified, said.

Last week, three Indonesian fishermen were seized off the coast of Sabah.

The military denied re­ports attributed to Philippine authorities that Abu Sayyaf bandits contacted the family of one of the fishermen and demanded payment of an un­determined amount of ransom.

Officials said they have yet to confirm if the Abu Sayyaf was behind the kidnapping. Jaime Laude , Romina Cabrera