ZCZC
BFF-10
PHILIPPINES-CRIME-KILLING
Gunmen kill six, kidnap couple in southern Philippines
MANILA, Sept 1, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – Six villagers were killed when
unidentified gunmen abducted a Filipino business couple in a southern
Philippine town, police said on Saturday.
Police officer Edwin de Ocampo of the Zamboanga del Norte provincial
police said the gunmen broke into the house of the couple in a coastal
village of Sirawai town in Zamboanga del Norte province and forcibly took the
victims around 5 pm local time on Friday.
De Ocampo said a neighbor of the victims, a member of the military’s
militia force, tried to rescue the victims but was killed in a brief shootout
with the kidnappers.
Five more villagers were also gunned down by the kidnappers as they
escaped, De Ocampo added. He said a child was also wounded in the crossfire.
De Ocampo said that a pursuit operation has been launched to rescue the
couple.
Police said it was the second abduction incident in Sirawai town this
year. Early this year, a family of six were also abducted in the town. The
victims were later recovered in the remote Sulu province, police said.
BSS/XINHUA/SSS/0925 hrs