Trader abducted in Cotabato City; driver, escort shot dead

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Unidentified armed men abducted a Filipino-Chinese businesswoman and shot dead her driver and escort in Cotabato City on Friday afternoon, initial police reports said. The reports did not identify the kidnapped victim, but described her as the mother of the owner of LCT Hardware, one of the biggest hardware stores in Cotabato City located along Don Rufino Alonzo Street. The reports said the victims were on board a green pickup (LFG 368) and heading toward Cotabato Emergency Hospital along Quezon Avenue when flagged down by the suspects around 5:30 p.m. The slain driver and escort were identified as Richard Emberga and Eduardo Doruelo, respectively. The suspects escaped with the businesswoman on board a Tamaraw FX and a Toyota car and proceeded toward Abbey Road. Authorities immediately launched manhunt operations against them. Friday’s kidnapping was the second since August. On August 16, a Filipino-Chinese trader identified as Nelson Tan was abducted in Cotabato City and released three days later after the family reportedly paid ransom money. - Malu Cadelina Manar/KBK, GMANews.TV