Four kidnapped by gunmen in S. Philippines

Gunmen seized an architect, a son of a businessman and two others in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao, authorities said Saturday.

The incident occurred on March 29 but was only reported to police Friday, days after the military ended its monthlong offensive against members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao.

Rolen Balguin, police commander of Cotabato City, told a local radio station that the victims, Jason Cababayao, son of an engineer and owner of J Trade Concrete Products and Construction Supply in General Santos City; architect Raulito Suyom, Jr., Francis Wong and Rho Steven, were heading to this city on board a white Mitsubishi strada pickup when they were stopped by armed men along the national highway in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao.

There were no words from the victims heard since their disappearance.

Accordingly, the victims had an online business transaction with a client and they agreed to meet somewhere in Maguindanao.

Local radio reports said the kidnappers already phoned the victims families and demanded 10 million peso (about 224,719 U.S. dollars) random in Exchange for their captives freedom.

Balquin confirmed the incident. He said there is an ongoing investigation by the anti-kidnapping group to determine the identities of the perpetrators. Endi