Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Gunmen snatch daughter of university president (10:46 a.m.)
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Unidentified men snatched the daughter of a university president in Zamboanga City where the Sayyaf group is known to operate, officials said.
Officials said the 19-year old Grace Gonzalez was seized late Tuesday near their house in Guiwan village after gunmen attacked and injured her female companion.
Local radio reports said Gonzalez's companion was rushed to hospital after one of the men hit her in the head with the butt of his gun. The victim is the daughter of Dr Eldigario Gonzalez, president of the state-owned Western Mindanao State University .
"We still don't know the motive, but the police are closely working with the victim's family," said Superintendent Francisco Cristobal, chief of the local police force.
He said victim's family had received previous kidnapping threats and that police was investigating whether it was connected to the abduction of Gonzalez.
The military is also tracking down the victim, said Army Colonel Edgardo Gidaya, commander of a local anti-terrorist task force. (Al Jacinto) |
