Department of Foreign Affairs building 蜜桃工作室 FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines鈥擳he Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has identified the Filipina that was kidnapped in Malaysia Wednesday night.
鈥淭he Philippine Embassy in Malaysia was able to confirm from local police authorities that the identity of the Filipina kidnap victim as that of Marcelita M. Dayawan, aged 40, and a staff member at the Singamata Resort,鈥� DFA said in a statement Friday.
鈥淓mbassy officials are in touch with Ms. Dayawan鈥檚 relatives and are extending consular assistance,鈥� it said.
Dayawan was with a 29-year old Chinese woman from Shanghai when they were seized from the Singamata Reef Resort in Semporna.
There were at least six perpetrators believed to be members of the extremist Abu Sayyaf group, which gained聽notoriety聽for the spate of聽kidnap-for-ransom聽cases in Mindanao.
Malaysian and Philippine officials have launched pursuit operations against the kidnappers.
鈥淧hilippine and Malaysian authorities are closely and actively working together towards the speedy resolution of the case,鈥� DFA said.
鈥淲e continue to hope and pray for the immediate resolution of this incident and the safe return of the victims to their families,鈥� it said.
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