Ex-Marine, daughter abducted near Manila
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Gunmen kidnapped a retired U.S. Marine
and his daughter from their Philippine home, but released the former
serviceman three hours later after demanding a ransom for his daughter,
police said Monday.
Four armed men barged Sunday night into the
house of Filipino-American Ver Loyola in the resort city of Tagaytay,
south of Manila, tied up his wife and maid, and then drove away with
Loyola and his 19-year-old daughter, Cristina, a regional police report
said.
The assailants also took two cell phones, assorted jewelry worth $1,570 and $1,900 in cash, the report said.
Three
hours later, the kidnappers abandoned Loyola and the car in a nearby
town but demanded a ransom for the daughter, a police official said on
condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss details
with the media.
He said the kidnappers were demanding $67,400 for her release.
Kidnappings for ransom are common in the Philippines, but more often occur in the violence-torn south.
Police
officials say they have neutralized most kidnapping gangs in Manila and
nearby provinces, with only a handful still operating.
Earlier
this month, police filed kidnapping and murder charges against a police
officer who allegedly confessed he abducted a retired pilot and his
driver near Tagaytay. The victims were later found dead.
—update just a few minutes— NAGBAYAD
