Kidnappers release 3 captives near Lake Lanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Gunmen released unharmed an engineer, his wife and another companion after holding them captive near Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur pre-dawn Saturday, a military official said.

Capt. Franco Suelto, spokesman of army 1st Division, said reports from the 103rd Army Brigade the said that the abducted victims engineer Franco Enot, his wife Loida and companion Danilo Bariga were freed near the boundary of Madalum and Bacolod Kalawi along the coast of Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur about 1:30 a.m. Saturday to Hadja Johairah Macabuat, a businesswoman.

Police reported the victims were abducted last August 15 about 5p.m Barangay Paraaba, Ganasi town reportedly after failure to pay a monthly “royalty.” 

Negotiations by the local government were initiated, but it was not immediately known if ransom was paid to the kidnappers in exchange for the safe release of the victims. 

The victims were escorted to the provincial capitol complex in Barangay Datu Saber in Marawi City and were given medical check-up before they were reunited with their families, said Suelto.