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Po­lice are in­ves­ti­gat­ing a ran­som de­mand, fol­low­ing the kid­nap­ping of Pe­nal busi­ness­man Michael Ale­jan­dro Es­pana Ram­nath, pop­u­lar­ly known as “Span­ish,” as his rel­a­tives re­main fear­ful for his life.

Ram­nath, 34, who op­er­ates the Best Friends Burg­er out­let at Ram­jat­tan Trace, Pe­nal, was re­port­ed miss­ing fol­low­ing a late-night rob­bery on Tues­day. Po­lice con­firmed that the kid­nap­pers have is­sued an undis­closed ran­som de­mand and have al­leged­ly threat­ened to dis­mem­ber Ram­nath if the mon­ey is not paid by the end of the week.

Rel­a­tives of the busi­ness­man have de­clined to speak with the me­dia, cit­ing fears for his safe­ty. In­ves­ti­ga­tors said the fam­i­ly has been hop­ing for proof of life since the in­ci­dent.