3.36 AM Friday, 26 April 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:25 05:43 12:19 15:46 18:50 20:09
26 April 2024

Gunmen abduct Filipino mayor

Published
By Agencies

Officials say armed men have abducted the mayor of a southern Philippine town from her house and fled with her on motorboats.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said Tuesday five armed men forcibly took Mayor Gemma Adana of Naga, a town in the southern province of Zamboanga Sibugay, from her house while she was with friends late Monday.  The group fled toward the sea aboard two motorboats.

Roxas condemned the abduction, saying it will not go unpunished. He says a manhunt is underway and a provincial crisis committee has been convened.

Naga police officer Wilprim Timsan says the unidentified abductors have so far not communicated with Adana's family nor made any ransom demand.

Abu Sayyaf militants, kidnap gangs and other criminal groups operate in the province.