Kidnapped American released in Lanao del Sur

An American national kidnapped in January this year in Cagayan de Oro City in southern Philippines was released by his abductors Wednesday, police said. Milton Taylor, also known as Sam Taylor, was released at the boundary of Piagapo in Lanao del Sur and Marawi City at around 2 p.m., according to Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Llorca, director of Lanao del Sur Police District. Taylor, 53, was abducted last Jan. 12. He was last seen on Jan. 11 at Lamar Inn in Cagayan de Oro City in the company of some friends. Llorca said no ransom was paid in exchange for Taylor’s release. “Wala, pressure lang ito sa operation namin with the help of the AFP, NBI, and PACER . . . PACER ang lead agency. Pressured ang mga kidnappers kase yung latest ay muntik na naming ma-corner sila," he said. (No ransom was paid. The victim was released due to pressure from the operation we conducted with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Bureau of Investigation, and Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response, which was the lead agency. We nearly cornered the kidnappers recently.) Llorca said Taylor underwent X-ray following his release and was found to be in good condition. The police official did not identify the group behind the kidnapping. - KBK, GMA News