Cops arrest van owner in Italian abduction in Zambo Norte

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) – The police have arrested the owner of the getaway vehicle used by the gunmen who abducted a former Italian priest in Dipolog City, the capital of Zamboanga del Norte.Supt. Redentor Retusto, Zamboanga del Norte police director, identified the owner of the getaway vehicle as Amante Sagario, 49 of Pagadian City.Earlier, it was reported that Sagario is a resident of Katipunan village, Taguig City, Metro Manila.However, Retusto said Sagario was arrested Friday by the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) at his rented apartment in Barangay Balangasan, Pagadian City, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur.Sagario was identified as the owner of the silver metallic van (TMY-490) that was used by the gunmen in the abduction of Rolando Del Torchio, a former Italian priest.Del Torchio was seized by around 10 gunmen around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday from UrChoice Bistro Café along Quezon Avenue, Barangay Miputak, Dipolog City.The suspects dragged the victim to a waiting van with plate number TMY-490 and sped towards the boulevard in Purok Bularan, also in Barangay Miputak.They alighted and abandoned the van and transferred to two waiting motorboats colored white and blue that sped towards south direction.Retusto said Sagario was placed in the custody of the Dipolog City police and undergoing investigation in connection with the abduction of Del Torchio.He said efforts to establish the whereabouts of Del Torchio continued.