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COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/16 June) – An Army escort and a suspected kidnapper were killed while a businesswoman and her daughter were injured in a shootout during an attempted kidnapping at around 3 p.m. on Friday at Kilometer 26 in North Upi, Maguindanao.
Justina Pari-an, 42, and her 22-year old daughter Rona were returning home from Cotabato City, along with a three-year old child and an Army escort when about ten armed flagged down and sprayed bullets on the Toyota Vios car driven by Justina.
Romeo Pari-an, Justina’s husband, said his wife and the Army escort, Pfc. Regime Enerio were forced to fire back but were overpowered by the armed men who approached the vehicle, killed the soldier and destroyed the glass window on the driver’s side to unlock the car door and get Justina out.
Justina’s business is buy and sell, and lending.
She suffered foot injuries while her daughter Rona had minor injuries on her head and other parts of the body. The child suffered no injuries.
Justina was dragged almost a kilometer away from the highway on a mountain trail but the kidnappers allegedly found it difficult to move given her injuries. The kidnappers reportedly abandoned her as soldiers from the 40th IB were nearing the area.
In its hot pursuit operations, the 40th IB reported one of the suspects was killed.
The police in North Upi are investigating the case.
Before Friday’s incident, the Pari-ans had received warnings from kidnap for ransom groups that they would be abducted. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews)
