Kidnappers free Iligan City printing press owners

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 19 (PNA) -- Kidnappers have freed two business partners in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte, a top police official disclosed Wednesday. Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO)-West director Chief Supt. Felicisimo Khu said one of the victims was freed in Baloi, Lanao del Norte while the other in Ramain, Lanao del Sur. Khu said the victims namely Ma. Elda Senedo and Nadja Saldivar were kidnapped around 6 p.m. Saturday in Baloi, Lanao del Norte. Senedo and Saldivar, co-owners of a printing press in Iligan City, were aboard a Service Utility Vehicle (SUV) on the way home to Barangay Palao in Iligan, when flagged down by three gunmen, Khu said. He said the suspects commandeered the victims' vehicle and took P300,000 cash before speeding towards Balindong, Lanao del Sur. He said the gunmen freed Saldivar around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Ramain, Lanao del Sur and was ordered to raised P1.2 million ransom for the release of Senedo. However, he said Senedo, whose release was facilitated by Agakhan Sarip, was freed around 6:30 p.m. also Tuesday in Baloi, Lanao del Norte. Sarip turned over Senedo to Army 601st Infantry Brigade chief Col. Leo Ferrer after her release, Khu said. (PNA) LAM/TPG/mec