The Ormoc City Police Office (OCPO) is investigating the alleged abduction of a 47-year-old man from his home in Barangay Sumangga, Ormoc City, early Thursday morning.

Police identified the victim as Edmundo Elayda, who was reportedly taken by several bonnet-wearing men at around 5 a.m.

According to the victim's common-law wife, the suspects forcibly took Elayda from their residence before fleeing in a Mitsubishi Xpander bearing plate number JAF 9948.

The incident was immediately reported to Ormoc City Police Station 6, which launched a dragnet operation and sought the assistance of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the follow-up investigation.

The OCPO said the case is being treated with the highest priority.

"Authorities are actively pursuing all available leads to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those responsible," the OCPO said in a statement.

Police also urged anyone with information that could aid the investigation to contact the nearest police station or report through official police hotlines.

The OCPO likewise appealed to the public to avoid sharing unverified information or speculation on social media, saying it could hamper the investigation and cause unnecessary public alarm.