CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 16 Sep) – A 64-year-old Filipino-American was kidnapped by four gunmen in Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte early evening Wednesday, police said.[]
In a report, the Sirawai police station revealed that Rex Triplet, 64, a resident of Barangay Piacan in Sirawai, was going home with his wife when the kidnappers wearing camouflaged uniforms stopped his motorcycle in barangay Tapanayan.
The report said the 23-year-old wife, Celsa Maani-Triplet, was able to escape being captured and reported the incident to barangay officials.
Police said the abductors were armed with an M203 grenade launcher and three short firearms.
MindaNews tried to call the Sirawai police operation center but the policemen on duty could not say if Triplet is an American with a United States passport.
The kidnapping came after the US Embassy in Manila issued last month a warning to all US citizens living in some parts of Mindanao of plans by lawless groups to abduct them.[]
