MILF faction, Abu tagged in Korean trader’s kidnap

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Authorities identified members of a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) lost command and an Abu Sayyaf bandit as behind the kidnapping of a Korean businessman in Zamboanga Sibugay last Saturday.

Witnesses identified Abral Abdulsalam, a brother of MILF lost command leader Waning Abdulsalam; Munib Enriques, and a member of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group as the ones who seized Nwi Seong Hong, 73, in R. T. Lim town.

Police said the same group was behind the kidnapping of Australian Warren Richard Rodwell in Ipil town, Zamboanga Sibugay in December 2011.

Rodwell was freed more than a year later.

Inspector Dahaln Samuddin, Police Regional Office 9 spokesman, said the kidnappers have yet to contact the victim’s relatives.

Hong, his wife Sik Young, son Gobui, and their friends Gisuk Park and Jong Beoum Kim were at their apartment in Barangay Surabay when the gunmen barged in at around 9:30 p.m.

The kidnappers seized Hong, Gobui and Park. Gobui and Park managed to free themselves while Hong did not.

The suspects fled, taking Hong with them, toward Barangay President Roxas where their getaway vehicle was found abandoned and burned minutes later.