Police rescue boy, arrest abductor

JOINT police operatives from Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Norte have rescued a six-year-old boy and arrested his abductor in a raid in Zamboanga City, a police official disclosed Thursday.

Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) chief for intelligence Christine Tan said the boy was rescued around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday at the suspects’ hideout in Don Basilio Navarro Road in the village of San-Jose Cawa-Cawa, west of Zamboanga City.

Tan said the rescued boy was abducted around 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Canuto Elementary School in the Municipality of Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte.

Tan has identified the arrested suspect as Edcel Ong, 38, a resident of Tetuan village, east of Zamboanga City.

Ong allegedly abducted the boy to trade him in exchange for his “caretaker,” who was the suspect’s girlfriend, she said.

“Gusto ng suspect makipag-balikan sila,” she said based on information provided her by the Gutalac police.

However, it was further learned the suspect’s former girlfriend do not have any relation with the boy’s father except as “caretaker of the boy,” she said.

The rescued boy was immediately taken to Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte and handed over to his father, she said.

Criminal charges are set to be filed against the arrested suspect, she added.(Bong Garcia)