Manila trader seized by gunmen in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Unidentified gunmen seized a Manila-based businessman while he was visiting Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Thursday, the police said Friday.

Chief Superintendent Beinvenido Latag, director of police in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said the police were immediately alerted about the kidnapping of Dominador Berdin around 3 p.m. and subsequent search and rescue operation led to the arrest of two suspects.

But Latag said the other assailants managed to flee with Berdin, who was reportedly a gold trader.

“The victim was scheduled to meet a middleman at the Hillside Resort in Datu Odin Sinsuat,” he said.

Latag said instead of the victim’s contact, he was greeted by a group of armed men inside the resort.

He said that based on eyewitness accounts, the victim was dragged onto a mini cargo truck with license plate USL 905.

Responding policemen arrested two of the suspects, identified as Norodin Andil and Ryan Usman, Latag said.

The suspects were undergoing interrogation by the local police, he said.