Medical intern, 26, found after morning abduction

What was the motive of the four unidentified men who kidnapped and beat up Julian Iñaki Larrazabal Garcia?

The 26-year-old post-graduate medical intern was on his way to his car after a 24-hour duty on F. Ramos Ext. in Barangay Sta. Cruz at 7:45 a.m. when the incident happened.

"The kidnappers parked beside the victim's car and pulled him forcibly inside their vehicle that was observed by residents to be there the night before the incident. They know his schedule," said Councilor Dave Tumulak, deputy mayor for police matters.

The victim's mother Judith is a relative of the owner of Cebu Doctors' University Hospital, where he also studied.

The Larrazabals hail from Or- moc City and own a chain of hospitals and hotels.

Garcia was taken inside a white Toyota Hi-Ace van with a temporary plate number 3151.

A scared passerby, who witnessed the crime, called the Fuente Police Station at 8:30 a.m.

"She seemed hysterical as a commotion erupted in the area about a man being seized and held inside a car," PO3 Lucito

Gonzales of the Fuente Police Station said.

The Mobile Patrol Group and the Special Weapons and Tactics launched a blocking force to find the van.

At 10:30 a.m, the victim's brother received a private message in his Facebook account, telling him that Garcia was released in Sitio Dandan, Barangay Poblacion 1 in Carcar City.

He was found thrown near a cliff, hands tied, blindfolded and bruised.

"The assailants beat him up," Tumulak quoted the victim.

The assailants reportedly spoke in Cebuano and Tagalog.

Garcia was taken to a nearby police station.

Chief Insp. Jose Liddawa, head of the Carcar City Police Station, in a Brigada News FM report, said the assailants went through the victim's wallet.

"They found no money inside and maybe that's why they released him," Liddawa said.

The witness said he heard one of the assailants say," Pata

gam ra na namo (This is just to punish him)."

Before he was brought back to Cebu City, Garcia was taken to a private hospital in Naga for treatment.

Tumulak, who went with the police, said there was no ransom demand and Garcia's relatives also didn't receive any threats.

"Our police are still blank on what is the motive behind his kidnapping," he said.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, in a Facebook post, said that Garcia was not a random target.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Joel Doria said that he directed the Investigation and Detective Management Branch and the Anti-Kidnapping Group 7 to handle the case.

So far, the CCPO has not monitored any kidnap-for-ransom groups here in Cebu City, Doria said.

The assailants beat him up DAVE TUMULAK Cebu City Councilor