Kidnapped trader, wife freed in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY ,Philippines  – A businessman and his wife who were seized by armed men in Jolo Wednesday night were freed in Patikul town in Sulu Saturday evening after reportedly paying “board and lodging” fee.

Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said Jose Batronel, 51, was released at 7:45 p.m., a few hours after his wife Jocelyn, 30, was freed.

Both victims arrived in this city yesterday morning and were expected to fly to their hometown in Batangas.

Batronel, who is engaged in the sale of foam and appliances and has a lending business in Jolo, and his wife were taken by at least five unidentified armed men who forcibly entered their boarding house beside the National Power Corp. office in Barangay Busbus, Jolo.

Cabangbang said Batronel was immediately brought to the Sulu Provincial Hospital for medical treatment due to dehydration.

The military neither confirmed nor denied reports that Batronel paid P10,000 to their captors for their release.