Kidnappers contacted kin of 2 Americans—mayor

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines—The kidnappers of two American citizens and a Filipino have already contacted the family of their victims.

But Mayor Celso Lobregat, in a press briefing on Saturday night, would not say if the abductors indeed demanded $10 million as ransom.

Lobregat said the kidnappers on Thursday spoke by phone to Hiko Lunsmann, whose wife, Gerfa, and son Kevin Eric were kidnapped on July 12 in Tictabon Island here.

Gerfa, who is of Filipino descent, was adopted by an American couple when she was young. She returned to the Philippines to trace her roots, and build a house for her Filipino family on Tictabon Island.

“It’s a very short call,” he said, adding it was enough time to relay the ransom demand.

But when asked about the reported $10-million ransom demand, the mayor said: “I cannot confirm or deny that.”

Aside from the mother and son, another relative, Romnick Jackaria, was taken by the kidnappers.