Snatched Basilan vice mayor calls husband

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - – The vice mayor of Hadji Mutamad town in Basilan who was snatched by still unidentified men on Tuesday was able to contact her family, but did not relay any demand in exchange for her release, according to a police official.

 Superintendent Diomarie Albarico, Station 11 commander, said Arsina Kahing-Nanoh, 20, made a phone call to her husband at around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

“The victim only talked about how she was taken from a mall and into a waiting white van getaway vehicle,” he said. 

The police official said closed-circuit television camera footage showed the suspects and Nanoh casually walking while leaving the mall.

Albarico said Nanoh’s family claimed the victim was carrying over P300,000 worth of jewelries and P500,000 cash  when she was taken.

He said they are looking at politics and business as possible motives, noting that the victim also has a pending electoral protest and engaged in the buy-and-sell of gold and jewelries.

He said Nanoh’s husband is also engaged in the buy and sell of aquamarine products.

Albarico said they have already mobilized all intelligence units to locate the victim.