ILIGAN CITY -- A father and his son from Purok 3, Poblacion Bacolod, Lanao del Norte who have been reported missing since August 9 were confirmed kidnapped by still unidentified armed men.
Police Inspector Jake Peralta, police station commander of Bacolod town, identified the victims as Manuel Cristobal, 49 and his son Chester Cristobal.
Both were abducted at the Square Garden cockpit arena in Hinaplanon, Iligan City while attending a cock derby August 9.
"The daughter of Manuel Cristobal, Daliah came to my office and reported (the incident) on August 10 that his father and brother were not able to come home from Iligan City," Peralta said.
Peralta said on Saturday, August 13, at around two p.m., an unidentified man contacted the immediate family and said the two have been kidnapped.
He said the man demanded that ransom be paid for the release of the victims but declined to say amount of the ransom.
Peralta said the Cristobal’s red Toyota Vios with plate number KCS 826 has been found in Piapago town in Lanao del Sur.
The police official said the abduction may have taken place along the national highway from Kauswagan to Bacolod, Lanao del Norte where vehicles reduce speed due to repairs along the Lapayan to Tacub road.
"We have already coordinated the proper law enforcement agencies to assist us in the rescue of the Cristobals who are still in the hands of the kidnappers," Peralta said.
Police Senior Superintendent Leony Roy Ga, Iligan City Police Director, said policemen of Police Station 1 in Barangay Tambo did not receive reports of any abduction in the vicinity of Hinaplanon on August 9.
But Ga said a close circuit television (CCTV)-camera recording along the highway of Barangay Maria Cristina revealed that the Cristobal’s vehicle passed by the area in the afternoon of August 9.