Woman, 25, kidnapped in Zamboanga del Norte town

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Armed men abducted a 25-year old housewife in Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte a day after another Siocon resident, abducted in March, was freed by her abductors.

Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, the Western Mindanao police chief, said Feroza Hugasan Mindoon was inside her family’s house in Barangay Malipot when armed men barged in and took her away around 11:30 p.m.  on Friday.

Beltran said the Siocon police and soldiers belonging to the 13th Special Forces and 42nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army have pursued the abductors.

Mindoon’s kidnapping came a day after another Siocon resident, Jessica Duterte, 52,  was freed in Basilan.

Jessica and her husband Jose Duterte (not related to President Duterte) was kidnapped on March 3 in Barangay Sta. Maria, also in Siocon town.

Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, the commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu, said Jessica was reported to have been freed by her captors on Thursday.  Although her captors earlier demanded a P50 million ransom,  it was not immediately known if the kidnappers got paid, Sobejana said.

“We’ve learned that she was freed in Basilan. We don’t have (the full) details of her release,” Sobejana said.

Sobejana said Jessica was still undergoing medical treatment for unspecified illness while her husband remained in the hands of their captors. GAL