5 kidnap victims rescued in Lanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A mother and her four children who were kidnapped by unidentified armed men during a firefight in a village in Lanao del Norte Thursday have been rescued, a security official said yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, commanding general of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said the victims, whose identities were withheld for their protection, were taken from their house in Barangay Inoma, Maigo  town.

Cruz said the soldiers, who launched pursuit operations with the support of civilians, caught up with the suspects at around 5 p.m. 

The victims were abandoned by their captors and were rescued by the soldiers and handed over to Maigo town police.

 Initial investigation showed that a land dispute was the motive for the kidnapping.

Police are readying the filing of charges against the suspects.