British businessman, Filipina wife seized in Zamboanga del Sur

October 6, 2019

A British businessman and his Filipina wife were allegedly abducted in Zamboanga del Sur last Friday evening, police said.

According to Zamboanga police, the victims were identified as Allan Hyrons, 70, and Wilma Hyrons who were kidnapped by six unidentified suspects inside their own resort located at Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur around 6:50 pm.

“Two of the said suspects checked-in at Hyrons Resort and upon the arrival of the victims at the resort, four men at gunpoint forcibly brought them to the beach front where two armed suspects manned  a motor boat. The said suspects and victims boarded and fled towards the open seas of Pagadian City,” police said.

Some of the suspects fled towards the direction of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte, the police report added.

Maj. Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-9 spokesperson, said they have yet to establish the group behind the incident.

Galvez said so far the suspects have not yet contacted the family of the victims to ask for ransom money.

“No one established contact to their family and we have yet to identify the group which abducted the victims,” she told The Daily Manila Shimbun in a text message.

She said PRO9 is exhausting all resources, mobilizing all forces and coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to also seek the help of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the rescue operation. 

The Takuran Municipal Police Station is now conducting hot pursuit operation to identify and possible arrest of the suspects.

The Provincial Government also pledged to give P1 million bounty to anyone who could provide information regarding the suspects and the location of the Hyrons couple. Ella Dionisio/DMS