The Tagbilaran City Police Station, headed by Police Lieutenant Colonel John Kareen Escober, has issued a statement yesterday regarding an alleged kidnapping incident.

The victims, identified as Christian Leonmel Micabini, his father Noel Micabani, and Matt Ryan Dugaduga, were reportedly abducted by eight unidentified men in a white van in Mabuhay Village, Tagbilaran City, on November 27, 2024.

The whereabouts of the victims and the identity of the abductors remain unknown.

Escober stated that the police are actively investigating the case and are reviewing all CCTV footage from the area where the incident occurred.

Initial investigations have not yielded any leads from the CCTV footage.

According to reports, Escober mentioned that the family of one of the victims reported seeing a white Toyota Rush, allegedly driven by Matt Ryan Dugaduga, accompanied by the suspected kidnappers. The vehicle was later found in Loon City on November 28, 2024.

The only witness, known as “Randy,” claimed to have seen the incident.

Escober assured that the police are working closely with the witness to gather more information that could aid the investigation.

Escober noted that the focus of the investigation is on tracking the Toyota Rush to determine if it was part of a convoy with the van used in the abduction.

It is worth mentioning that Christian Leonmel Micabini and his father have no criminal records, unlike Matt Ryan Dugaduga, who was arrested for illegal drugs in 2017 and was involved in a shooting incident in Barangay Dao in June 2024, according to initial information gathered by the Tagbilaran Police.

As of now, the three victims have been missing for seven days.

Escober said that the Tagbilaran City Police will not rest until this case is resolved.

Police Control Over Kidnapping Case

In an exclusive interview with DYTR’s Kwentas Klaras, former Mayor John Geesnell “Baba” Yap assured the public that the Tagbilaran City Police have the kidnapping case under control.

This statement comes in response to the alleged abduction of three men in Mabuhay Village, Tagbilaran City, on November 27, 2024.

Yap cited the importance of verifying information from social media posts, especially regarding serious issues like kidnapping.

He also warned about the presence of fake Facebook accounts being used to attack the administration, which he believes have political motivations.

DYTR attempted to contact the owner of the Facebook account that posted about the incident but has not received a response.

As the investigation continues, Yap urged the public to remain calm and cautious about spreading unverified information that could cause public alarm.

Mayor Yap Directs Police to Solve Alleged Kidnapping Case

City Mayor Jane Yap has directed the police to solve the alleged kidnapping of three individuals in Mabuhay Village, Tagbilaran.

Reports indicate that three men were allegedly abducted on November 27, 2024. Tagbilaran City Police Chief Lt. Col. John Kareen Escober confirmed that he has coordinated with the victims’ families to resolve the case.

The victims have been identified as Noel Micabani, Christian Leonmel Micabani, and Matt Ryan Dugaduga. It was reported that at least eight individuals were involved in the abduction.

Dugaduga was previously arrested in 2017 on drug charges and was allegedly involved in a shooting incident in Barangay Dao.

There are also allegations that Noel Micabani was involved in drug-related activities.

Escober suggested that the abduction might be drug-related.

Initial investigations revealed that unidentified persons stormed into the home of Noel Micabani’s father, where the three victims were at the time.

It was alleged that a van was trailing Dugaduga prior to the kidnapping.

Escober said that the police have identified the plate number of the van used by the kidnappers.