Zamboanga City police said it is already preparing appropriate documents that would link the eight arrested persons to the kidnapping of businessman Eliseo Hablo who had just been rescued.

Senior Superintendent Mario Yanga, city police chief, said they first interrogated the two arrested policemen, identified as Police Officer 1 Marshall Lim and PO1 Alwyn Abdua, and lawyer Hassan Alam to get further information that would probably lead to the arrest of other suspects.

Local authorities said they have been studying the testimonies of their witnesses which, they said, would be used to link the arrested persons the businessman’s kidnapping.

Yanga said that one of the arrested policeman was even assigned to the anti-kidnapping task group and was supposed to help in rescuing the three kidnapped teachers from Sacol island in Zamboanga City.

Yanga reiterated that he will intensify his efforts to cleanse the Zamboanga City Police Office and remove those proven to be scalawags or involved in some criminal syndicate.

Treated “humanely”
Meanwhile, Hablo shared that during his one-month captivity, his abductors treated him humanely and fed him three times a day.

He said there was never came a point that his abductors hurt him or threatened to kill him if his family failed to meet their demands.

Hablo said the his abductors were constantly changing their “safe houses” where they hid him. He said he believes he was never brought to places outside Zamboanga or to Basilan province.

City police lauded
Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat and regional police director Chief Superintendent Angelo Sunglao meanwhile have both commended Yanga and his personnel.

Lobregat added that the successful rescue operation is a manifestation of how local law enforcement agencies have been working discreetly and with confidentiality, so as not to jeopardize a rescue operation.

National Police chief Director-General Jesus Versoza has also reportedly been informed on the accomplishment of Zamboanga City’s police office under Yanga’s leadership.

Local authorities were still conducting follow-up operations for the possible arrest of other suspects.

Police on Tuesday rescued the kidnapped businessman in Zamboanga City.

The Zamboanga City Police Office said its operatives rescued bakery owner Hablo from his kidnappers "boarding house" in Southcom Village around 9 a.m.

Other arrested suspects were earlier identified as Joel Enriquez, 51; Harmon Juban Endong, 23; Saturnino Limpas Garcia, 25; Joel Mabatan Gonzalez, 33; and Grace Mabatan Gonzales.

Police said some of the arrested suspects claimed they were only renting the boarding house, where Hablo was rescued by policemen.

Hablo came from a drinking session with his friends in Zamboanga City when he was reportedly kidnapped. The kidnappers reportedly took the victim's van, which was found abandoned in Barangay San Roque.

There were earlier reports that the businessman was brought by the kidnappers to Basilan province.

At least five more people, including a nine-year-old boy and three teachers, are believed to be in the hands of kidnappers in Basilan.

Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of the Marines-led Joint Task Force Comet, told ANC Tuesday morning that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front group based in Basilan are helping the kidnappers.

Sabban said the military and the police have been conducting "simultaneous and aggressive" operations against kidnappers in Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu provinces.

Suspected Abu Sayyaf members are still holding three members of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Indanan town, Sulu province. With a report from David Santos, ABS-CBN Zamboanga