GenSan fish trader freed by captors – police

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines–A 32-year-old man allegedly kidnapped here on May 24 was freed in Koronadal City by his supposed captors Sunday evening.

Renato Asumbrado, who was turned over to the General Santos police on Monday, told reporters he was abandoned at around 7 p.m. Sunday right in front of St. Anthony Parish in Koronadal City by his unknown abductors.

Asumbrado, a fish trader at the General Santos City Fish Port Complex, was reportedly seized near his residence in Fatima Village here by unidentified motorcycle-riding men.

He claimed that from this city, his abductors forced him into a car and they traveled for about two hours before he was ordered to transfer to a motorcycle.

A blindfolded Asumbrado was transported via a rough road before they reached an unfamiliar place, where he was held for about a month.

Asumbrado claimed that on Sunday, he was again blindfolded before he was taken from the abductors’ hiding place back to Koronadal City, where he was released.

“They even told me to seek help from a priest inside the St. Anthony Parish [church],” Asumbrado told reporters.

He said parish staff immediately informed Koronadal City Mayor Peter Miguel, who turned him over to Koronadal City Police Command.

The Koronadal City Police on Monday morning turned over the victim to General Santos City Police Office.

The local police here are still conducting an investigation to determine the motive behind the abduction and if ransom was paid in exchange for Asumbrado’s release.