Escorts of 2 Cotabato judges foil Indian trader's kidnap

MANILA, Philippines – An Indian national escaped from his would-be kidnappers after alert security escorts of two Cotabato City judges traded shots with them past midnight yesterday, a military spokesman said.

Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command, said Manohar Mike Khemani, owner of the Sugni Superstore, was on his way home from a meeting when three armed men blocked his path and dragged him into another vehicle.

“While in the process, the convoy of Judges Ibrain Bansawan and Ben Garcia happened to pass by. Immediately, their security escorts reacted by firing at the kidnap suspects, providing an opportunity for the victim to escape unharmed,” he said.

Cabangbang, however, said Khemani’s driver, Christopher Aracena, was wounded in the brief firefight.

The kidnappers withdrew toward the Malagapas area and are now being pursued by Task Group Tugis. – With Dennis Carcamo and Jaime Laude