Italian ex-priest kidnapped in Dipolog City

After he left the priesthood in 2001, Del Torchio moved to Dipolog City where he worked with a nongovernment organization that helps poor farmers and later established his pizzeria business. Del Torchio was snatched by still unknown armed me yesterday.

Unidentified armed men used the vehicle in the kidnapping of 56-year-old del Torchio from the pizza restaurant he owns in Dipolog.

“They (police) will do the necessary action to secure the release of Mr. Rolando del Torchio”, he said in a news briefing in Malacanang, the presidential palace.

Other suspects later entered the restaurant and seized Torchio who was seated at his computer table near the cashier.

Authorities say no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. The van was abandoned at the boulevard.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Philippine forces searched on land and sea Thursday but were unable to find any sign of a former Italian Roman Catholic missionary who was abducted by gunmen in the south, where he has lived for years despite a history of violent attacks on fellow Italian priests, officials said.

He said they are investigating the footage of the suspects captured by the closed-circuit television (CCTV) inside the pizza café. That group later turned their captive over to a bigger gang in southern Sulu province.

According to Trinidad, troops immediately conducted pursuit operations utilizing two speedboats of the Army’s Special Forces, including a pump boat and speedboat of the 21st Infantry Battalion (IB) to intercept the perpetrators in the coastal areas southwest of Zamboanga del Norte.

Likewise, intelligence units have been tasked to monitor possible safe houses of the kidnappers in the province.

The task force and the CMC were activated during an emergency meeting called by Gov. Roberto Uy who is also the chairman of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC).