Pagadian City police launch operation to rescue engineering student

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- The police have launched an operation in a bid to rescue an engineering student of the Southern

Mindanao College (SMC) seized by gunmen, believed to be kidnappers, late Thursday in this city.

Local police chief Supt. Glenn Dulawan said Friday the operation to rescue the victim, Stephen Tan, was launched jointly with the Provincial Public Safety Battalion (PPSB) and with the military forces.

Dulawan said Tan, 19, was seized around 9:30 p.m. Thursday by gunmen while he was with his classmates in front of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) office along Cabrera Street, this city.

Dulawan said the suspects, armed with high-power firearms, have forced the victim to board a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with registered plate number KJS-723 that fled towards east direction from the crime scene.

However, Dulawan said the victim’s relatives have reported the incident three hours after the incident.

The family of Tan owns a resort in Barangay Mahayahay, this city.

Dulawan said they are checking the ownership of the suspects’ getaway vehicle while the troops are tracking down the whereabouts of the victims. (PNA)
FPV/TPGJR/ Hirohito D. Cadion/utb