Suspect’s sketch in kidnap of Briton, wife released

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Police released yesterday a sketch of one of the suspects in the kidnapping of a British man and his Filipino wife in Zamboanga del Sur on Friday.

Maj. Helen Galvez, Zamboanga peninsula police spokesperson, said the computer-generated sketch was based on the description of witnesses.  

Galvez said the suspect is between 30 to 35 years old, dark-skinned and around 5’6” tall.

She said a photo of another man, whom witnesses identified as one of the kidnappers, would also be released. The suspect was captured on closed-circuit television at a convenience store near the resort.

It has yet to be determined if the gunmen are members of a kidnap gang.

Galvez said the kidnappers have yet to contact the family of the couple.

The couple were snatched as they arrived at their beach resort about two kilometers away from the Tukuran town proper. They were dragged into two motorboats, one of which headed toward Pagadian City and the other to Lanao del Sur. 

Police said two of the kidnappers checked in at the resort a day before the incident.

Galvez said the victims have “very good relations with their neighbors” and might have become complacent with their security.

The two have lived in the barangay since 2013.

P1-M reward up

The Zamboanga del Sur provincial government offered a reward of P1 million for information that will lead to the rescue of the captives and arrest of the kidnappers.

Galvez said hotlines were set up where the public can communicate with Brig. Gen. Froilan Quidilla, Zamboanga peninsula police director.  

Maj. Arvin John Encinas, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said a task force led by Maj. Gen. Roberto Ancan, commander of the First Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan, was created to conduct rescue operations. 

Encinas said they have leads on the location of the kidnappers and their captives. He refused to elaborate.