Escaped US teen kept from cops

ESCAPE STORY American Kevin Lunsmann (his face intentionally blurred as he is a minor) narrates to soldiers in Zamboanga City his escape from Abu Sayyaf kidnappers in Basilan. AP

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Police here had wanted to speak with Kevin Eric Lunsmann, the 14-year-old American national who escaped from his abductors in Basilan province on Thursday.

But that became an impossibility after the American teen was immediately whisked off to Manila by US authorities.

“How I wish I was able to speak with the boy,” Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu, head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer when asked their reaction to Lunsmann’s escape.

Mayor Celso Lobregat said Lunsmann was now in the custody of US authorities in Manila.

“It’s difficult to say what our next action will be  when we were not allowed to get near the boy, and we are hoping against hope that those who spoke with the boy, including the US government, can help us pursue the case against his captors,” Khu said.

Khu said he was waiting for Lobregat’s instructions on what to do next.  Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao