GenSan bank exec, daughter kidnapped

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels seized a bank manager and his 21-year-old daughter in General Santos City last Saturday, but later dumped the man to report the incident, the military’s Southern Command said.

Lt. Col. Danilo Servando, Southcom spokesman, said seven hooded armed men barged into the Senda residence in Barangay Bula at about 8:20 p.m., and snatched Lowell Senda, 52, general manager of Consumer Bank, and his daughter Janice Glenda.

The armed men divided themselves into two groups: one brought Senda to the Bulaong River on board his Honda Civic, and the other fled with his daughter aboard a motorcycle.

Servando said members of the Army’s 75th Infantry Battalion pursued the two groups. A police unit later found Senda whom the kidnappers abandoned to report the incident, and the getaway motorcycle.

Servando did not say if Senda mentioned any ransom demand in exchange for his daughter’s release.

He said the 75th IB, the police and Task Force Gensan have launched rescue operations for Senda’s daughter.

The General Santos business community fears that more kidnappings would ensue with the government suspending military operations against the separatist rebels.