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Italian Missionary Kidnapped in the Philippines

  • Veronica Neffinger

    Veronica Neffinger wrote her first poem at age seven and went on to study English in college, focusing on 18th century literature. When she is not listening to baseball games, enjoying the…

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  • Updated Oct 08, 2015

An Italian who had done missionary work in the Philippines has been abducted by rebels. 

Christian Today reports that Rolando del Torchio, 53, was kidnapped by Islamist or communist rebels or members of a criminal gang who were posing as customers of the pizzeria del Torchio owns in the Mindanao region of the Philippians. 

Authorities report that kidnappings, especially of foreigners, have been frequent in the southern Mindanao region. The kidnappers most often hope to get ransom for their victims.

Del Torchio had been a missionary priest with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions in Sibuco town, south of the Philippine city of Dipolog. 

Philippine police authorities believe the kidnappers transferred del Torchio to a motor boat after abducting him from his pizzeria, and headed for the southern coastal towns in Zamboanga del Norte province.

Police are also investigating whether or not del Torchio’s kidnappers belong to the same group that has carried out an abduction of a village chief earlier in the year. 

Christian Today reports that only last month, rebels kidnapped two Canadian tourists, a Norwegian resort manager, and a Filipino woman.

Publication date: October 8, 2015