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ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/16 March) – Combined 4th Special Forces troops and militiamen thwarted an attempt by gunmen to kidnap a businessman in Basilan province on Sunday night.
Rescued was Ramon Sanson Jr., 56, a copra dealer and a resident of Barangay Sta. Barbara, Malamawi Island, Isabela City, Basilan.
Lt. Col. Eliglen Villaflor, Army 4th Special Forces commander, said that seven gunmen clad in camouflage uniforms seized Sanson at his residence around 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Villaflor said Sanson’s rescue came after his neighbors, who heard the call for help by the victim and his family, immediately informed the troops at a nearby militia patrol base “of the ongoing crime.”
Villaflor said troops from the patrol base led by a certain Cpl. Hingosa responded and intercepted the gunmen who were dragging Sanson into a waiting motorized banca.
He said the team of Hingosa engaged the abductors in a firefight by delivering deliberate and selective fires to avoid hitting civilians.
He said the kidnappers left Sanson behind and fled aboard the waiting banca.
He said the kidnappers beat Sansom black and blue as he persistently resisted the abduction. (MindaNews)
