Kidnappers free Fil-Chinese trader

LAGUNA, Philippines  – A Filipino-Chinese businessman seized on Wednesday in Calamba City in this province was released the next day after his family reportedly paid ransom.

Hardware store owner Zohn Cheng was snatched in Barangay Paciano at around 8:30 a.m., as he was about to open their store.    He was reportedly released somewhere in Laguna or Batangas.

The family reportedly did not coordinate with the local police about the ransom demand and payment, for fear that the kidnappers might harm the victim.

Authorities refused to reveal the amount of ransom money paid to the kidnappers.

Senior Superintendent Florendo Saligao, Laguna police director, said the case was handled by the police anti-kidnapping unit based at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The kidnapping was reported by store helper Josella Alyaon, who told police she saw her employer being dragged into a Hyundai Accent (ARA-6204).

Cheng was seized by two armed men whose faces were covered with bonnets.