British national, Pinay wife kidnapped in Zamboanga del Sur

A British national and his Filipina wife were kidnapped by armed men in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur on Friday night, Tukuran Vice Mayor Delfina Cortina told GMA News in a phone interview.

The incident occurred past 6 p.m. at the beach resort owned by the couple, Cortina said.

Police said the two were abducted at 6:50 p.m. in Barangay Alindahaw by four armed men who were still unidentified.

The armed men forcibly took the couple outside the beach resort that they own.

They herded them into two motorized bancas which went into opposite directions, one going to Pagadian and the other one going to Lanao del Norte.

One of the resort's staff witnessed the abduction.

“Nakita ko sina sir na may lumapit na isang tao.Nagtataka nalang ako kung bakit nila hinila-hila yung amo ko. Pagkatapos may dumating na tatlong katao at dinala nila si sir.Kaya tinawag ko yung mister ko.Sabi ko tulungan nyo si sir kasi pinagtulungan ng mga tao," said thye staff member.

Police Chief Master Sergeant Oliver Cimafranca of the Tukuran police said two of the abductors even checked in at the resort the day before the abduction.

“Ang sinabi ng mga caretaker na may dalawang katao na nagcheck-in kahapon.Hindi nila nakilala.Hindi rin nila iniisip na mga kidnapper yun," said Cimafranca.

The Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines were already on hot pursuit operations.

The couple also own a school, Cortina said. —With a report from Aude Hampong/KG, GMA News