Kidnapper of Fil-Chinoy trader captured

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Government troops on search and rescue operation captured one of the kidnappers of a Filipino-Chinese businesswoman yesterday morning in an island off Jolo, according to the military here.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, chief of Joint Task Force Comet, a military unit hunting down the Abu Sayyaf, said a suspected kidnapper of Gertrudes Tan was nabbed in Tapul island, the place where the bandits brought their victim.

Tolentino said the suspects’ speedboat which was already repainted was also recovered during the raid.

The military official said the identity of the arrested suspect was not immediately made available as he was already turned over to the custody of the police in Siasi town for further investigation and filing of proper charges.

Tolentino believed that the abduction of Tan had no link with the Abu Sayyaf citing information that Tan’s abduction has to do with debts from the kidnappers who are in the illegal trade of drugs such as shabu and marijuana.

He said based on the report, one of Tan’s sons has allegedly been indebted with a big amount of money from drugs.

Tan was reportedly taken by five unidentified armed men while she was on her way to church on April 13 in Siasi.