Transport operator's wife abducted

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines  – One person was killed and another was wounded when a gang of heavily armed men abducted the wife of a transport magnate past 6 p.m. in Sto. Niño town in South Cotabato province Sunday, authorities said yesterday.

The woman, 51, was inside their grocery store when she was seized by six unidentified armed men, reportedly carrying high-powered firearms like M-16, M-14 and Rocket Propelled Grenade, initial police report by the Sto. Niño police station said.

Citing reports relayed to him, Sto. Niño town Mayor Antonio Damandaman said one of the suspects shot the victim’s husband, when he resisted by firing at the kidnappers during the abduction.

The victim’s husband, who suffered gunshot wounds on his stomach, was rushed by his relatives in one of Koronadal City’s hospitals, where he is now confined.

Reports said the suspects also shot the 21-year-old cashier of the grocery store when he attempted to prevent the kidnappers from taking away the couple.

Police identified the cashier as Melvin Fontillon, who died due to multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body.

According to reports, the couple owned the Denmark Transport Services, a passenger van plying various parts of the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and cities of Tacurong, Koronadal and General Santos.

Prior to the abduction, Damandaman said, at around 5:45 p.m. yesterday, a white L-300 van (no plate number) parked in front of the couple’s grocery store, which is located some few meters away from the town’s public terminal.

Superintendent Barney Condes said they are still tracking the whereabouts of the kidnappers, whose identities and affiliations have not yet been known.

A police officer from the Sto. Niño town suspected that the kidnappers are the same persons who attempted to kidnap three Korean nationals in the said town several months ago.