Businesswoman escapes kidnap try in Sultan Kudarat

A businesswoman on Saturday escaped a kidnapping attempt on her in Sultan Kudarat province in southern Philippines by breaking free from two of her five fully armed would-be abductors. A statement from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Police Regional Office-12 (PRO-12) said Rose Manganaan, 33, was looking over her corn plantation business in Brgy. Poblacion, Esperanza town at around 4:30 p.m. when two armed men alighted from a car and grabbed her. The statement said three other fully armed men remained in the car, which was described as a black, box-type Nissan Sentra with plate number TBC 487. “Fortunately the victim was able to struggle and slipped away from her captors, and ran for her safety," the police statement said. Manganaan’s relatives, who were immediately alerted, fired at the suspects, who rushed inside their vehicle and drove away. Police operatives who heard the shots responded to the area and gave chase. According to Police Senior Inspector Manuel Ryan Lim, leader of the patrol unit that responded to the scene, the suspects fired at them when they managed to get behind their vehicle. “The police officers returned fire, making the perpetrators abandon their getaway vehicle at Purok Malipayon, Brgy. Poblacion, and ran on foot in different directions, using the cornfield as their concealment," Lim said. Recovered from the abandoned vehicle were one live rocket-propelled grenade ammo, and one live ammo for caliber .45 pistol. Investigators also noticed bloodstains at the driver seat, hinting that one of the suspects was wounded. PRO 12 Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu Jr. has already ordered a 24-hour checkpoint at Tamontaka Bridge, Cotabato City which is a possible escape route of the suspects. He had also coordinated with police authorities in adjacent Maguindanao province for the possible interception of the kidnappers and to check hospitals and clinics in the area for the wounded suspect. - KBK, GMANews.TV