Girl seized, father killed in NCotabato — military

Members of a notorious Mindanao-based criminal group on Thursday morning kidnapped a young girl and shot dead her father, a businessman, in North Cotabato, a military official said. One of the suspects, however, was arrested after their getaway vehicle figured in an accident while fleeing the scene with the victim, according to Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, commander of the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command. Tabaquero said the father was bringing his eight-year-old daughter to school on board their “motorela" — a three-wheeled vehicle powered by a motorcycle — when five suspects intercepted them at a national highway in Pigkawayan town around 6:45 a.m. “The abductors shot and killed the girl’s father . . . who resisted the armed men," he said. Quoting initial reports, Tabaquero said the suspects took the girl to their getaway car and sped off towards Cotabato City. The car, however, figured in an incident, prompting the suspects to flee on foot together with the victim. One was left behind and was mauled by residents. Tabaquero did not identify the arrested suspect, but said based on initial investigation, the kidnappers belong to the notorious Pentagon Group, which is involved in kidnap-for-ransom and extortion activities. Authorities have already gotten hold of a demand letter sent by the kidnappers to the girl’s family, Tabaquero said without elaborating. “The victim has not been released yet. She is still with the abductors. The troops are still pursuit. The victim is unreleased," he said. The 40th Infantry Battalion has already dispatched troops to rescue the eight-year-old victim. - KBK, GMANews.TV