ZAMBOANGA CITY – Lieutenant General Benjamin Mohammad Dolorfino, chief of the military’s Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) announced Thursday that the kidnappers have freed the architect they seized almost a month ago in Lanao del Sur province.

Dolorfino said the kidnappers freed Pablo Mercado, III, 45, around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in the village of Camague, Iligan City.

Dolorfino did not say whether ransom was paid or not except that the release of Mercado was the result of the series of negotiations coupled with continuous pressure from the pursuing military troops.

Mercado was seized last October 23 by gunmen clad in police uniforms while he was aboard a passenger van along the Iligan-Marawi highway in the village of Bubong, Saguiran, Lanao del Sur.(Bong Garcia)