Zamboanga student escapes abduction

ZAMBOANGA CITY: An 18-year-old student who was abducted by two men on a motorcycle taxi made a daring escape while her captors were waiting for a getaway van in the southern Philippine port city of Zamboanga, police said on Thursday.

The police also said the abductors grabbed Grade 12 student Nykesha Venice Muksan Robles while she was walking along Palmeras Drive in the village of Guiwan around 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

She was later brought to Tumaga village where a getaway van would be waiting for them.

This was confirmed by Maj. Shellamie Chang, a regional police spokesman.

“The victim was walking along Palmeras Drive and was heading to a sari-sari (variety) store. Eventually, two unidentified persons on board a tricycle forcibly grabbed her and placed her inside the tricycle and covered her eyes,” Chang said, citing an investigation report into the incident.

“The tricycle fled and stopped over Justina Village, Tumaga-Putik road while waiting for a white van to pick up the victim. The victim then got a chance to get out of the tricycle and ran toward the nearby residences and was able to escape from her abductors. The suspects allegedly fled toward the direction of Tumaga,” she added.

Chang said the police are investigating the incident and would not say whether this was a failed ransom kidnapping.

Robles’ family has not issued any statement.