Japanese treasure hunter abducted in Sulu

A Japanese national engaged in treasure hunting was abducted on Friday afternoon by still unidentified men in Sulu province, military officials reported. Amer Katayama Mamaito, who has been treasure hunting and living in the far-southern province for five years now, was kidnapped by a group of 10 men in Sitio Bas, Barangay Bangkilay in Pangutaran town at around 1 p.m. Friday, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesperson Lt. Stephanie Cacho said. Wesmincom chief Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino meanwhile said that the military is still checking on the circumstances of the kidnapping. “The information that we have now came from the police. I had the kidnapping checked by our forces there," he said in a separate interview. Dolorfino added that there are still no suspects on the abduction of the Japanese treasure hunter as of posting time.—ACC/JV, GMANews.TV