LINAMON, Lanao del Norte -- Unidentified armed men abducted a businesswoman along the national highway of Linamon town in Lanao del Norte province around 5:30 a.m., Sept.12, just in time of the Eid Al Adha celebration.
Police identified the victim as Clarita Belisario, 57 and proprietor of Caltex gasoline station operating in Linamon town.
Edgar Guillamac, one of the officers of Linamon Emergency Rescue Unit (LERU), said Belisario was on her way for a church visit when the suspects pounced on her, forcing the victim to board their getaway Montero vehicle.
Guillamac said accounts from witnesses indicated the suspects used at least two vehicles parked near a bakeshop fronting the gasoline station owned by Belisario.
Two of the suspects were reportedly on board a white SUV Montero with plate number ABC 5430 backed up with a white van heading towards Matungao town.
Military authorities from the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade and 103rd Brigade of the Philippine Army support the PNP in tracking the whereabouts of the suspects and their victim believed to be now in the hinterlands of Kapai, Lanao del Sur.
Police Inspector Moamar Solog said they’re also verifying reports that the suspects took the access road from Matungao towards Poona Piagapo also in Lanao del Norte.
As of press time, the perpetrators have yet to establish contact with the victim’s immediate family for a possible ransom demand.
Already, Linamon town Mayor Randy Macapil has convened a Crisis Management Committee Oplan Retrieval Clarita on Monday afternoon and established strategies with the military, PNP and LERU units for the purpose.