Police on Tuesday rescued a kidnapped businessman and arrested seven people, including a policeman and a lawyer, in Zamboanga City.

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

Police said at least seven people were arrested for possible involvement in Hablo's kidnapping last January 8.

The arrested suspects were identified as Atty. Hassan Go Alam, 62; Police Officer 1 Marcial Gabitanan Lim, 38; 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.

Hablo's family had earlier dismissed the possibility that he was kidnapped. They said the businessman usually goes missing and turn up for several days.

The military and the police, however, confirmed that Hablo was kidnapped. 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