ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - One of the gunmen that abducted two public school officials has been arrested by security forces in Kumalarang town, Zamboanga del Sur, according to police Thursday.
The captured suspect was identified as Ryan Tumales, 22, single and a resident of Barangay Lumbia, Siayan Zamboanga Del Norte, according to Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, Spokesman of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO).
Police investigator said Tumales was spotted by a village official suspiciously taking the escape route used by the abductors that seized the couple Rudy and Tessie Luna, both supervisors of Bayog and Kumalarang school districts respectively in Zamboanga del Sur, shortly before midnight Tuesday.
Mrs. Luna, who escaped using the darkness at the height of power interruption while they were being transferred into a pumpboat by their captors at sitio Dacon, Barangay Picanan, positively identified Tumales as one of those who barged into their house and seized them.
Police were preparing the case against the suspect while pursuit continues to rescue the remaining captive.