Kidnapped couple still in Zamboanga del Sur, says governor

Zamboanga del Sur authorities are confident the abducted couple is still in the province, even as the kidnappers have yet to make any ransom demand.

"Hindi pa sila nag-demand ng ransom, so medyo hindi pa sila stable dun sa mga grounds. I mean, palipat-lipat pa sila. We think na nandito pa sa bandang area natin," Governor Victor Yu said.

According to a report by Bam Alegre on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho," the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Southwestern Mindanao has created a blockade to prevent the possible escape of the suspects.

"What we are doing so far is to establish their kidnapping pattern. After learning that they were abducted in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur, immediately the PCG deployed its floating assets as a pre-emptive deployment so that they would not be able to turn over the victims to the captors," Commodore Joseph Coyme, PCG Southwestern Mindanao district commander, said. 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police have also formed a task force to help with the investigation.

However, officers refused to divulge information to the media as operations are ongoing and details are "very sensitive."

A facial composite of the person of interest, taken from a CCTV camera in a shop in Tukuran, was released on Monday.

Authorities have put up a P1 million reward for information on the victims' whereabouts.

The British national and his Filipina wife were kidnapped on October 5 in Tukuran town. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News