Four armed men reportedly abducted the teenaged son of a businessman and a teacher from northern Negros at 21st Street, Bacolod City Wednesday afternoon and freed him later somewhere in Miag-ao town, Iloilo province.

The victim, 18, whose name is being withheld by the police for security reasons, said he was walking at 21st street near Café Bobs when the men suddenly grabbed him and forced him into the compartment of their car.

The victim, a 2nd year chemical engineering student, said he lost consciousness, and when he woke up, he was still inside the compartment. He said the suspects took him out and instructed him to run as fast as he could because they will chase him.

He said the suspects brought him into an area not familiar to him, where he could only see tall trees and later learned that he was already in Miag-ao town when he saw the Philippine National Bank.

The suspects took his wrist watch and P10,000 that was intended for his tuition fees.

His sister said they called her brother at about 8 p.m. Wednesday and he told her that he was abducted by armed men who were wearing sunglasses and were covering their faces with handkerchiefs.

She said their family believes that her brother was a victim of mistaken identity and that the abductors had other targets.

Nonetheless, she said, their family is thankful that they did not hurt or kill her brother.

Station 2 chief, Senior Insp. Robert Dejucos, said that they are still investigating this case thoroughly. He said they are looking into the possibility that the victim knew his abductors, although he did not elaborate further.

Dejucos also theorized that the suspects abducted the victim only to threaten him, but as to the reason why, they are still to determine it.

Bacolod City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz also allayed fears about abduction groups in the city.

De la Paz said that while they consider this an isolated case, they are coordinating with the Miagao police station for possible leads on the identities of the suspects.*APN

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