Another Korean snatched

MANILA, Philippines - A Korean businessman was reportedly kidnapped by unidentified men in Zamboanga Sibugay Saturday night, the military said yesterday.

Initial Army reports said Noui Hong Sung, 73, was snatched by armed men on board a mini-van in RT Lim town around 9:30 p.m..

The mini-van was later found torched in Sitio Limono, Barangay Mabuhay in the same town.

Inspector Dahlan Samuddin, public information chief of Police Regional Office 9, said the victim came to RT Lim town last Thursday to visit his son, who is also a businessman, residing in Barangay Katipunan, an adjacent village.

Samuddin said police and military forces were tasked to block the kidnappers from moving the victim to another area.

Capt. Vivar Crisostomo, civil-military operations officer of the 102nd Infantry Brigade, said no specific group has been tagged in the kidnapping.

But he noted that there are lawless groups in the province associated with kidnapping and extortion.

Authorities are still investigating the incident. – With Roel Pareño