TEGUCIGALPA – A son of journalist Eduardo Maldonado was kidnapped by several armed men at the family’s house in Tegucigalpa, Honduran National Police spokesman Orlin Cerrato said.

The unidentified gunmen “took away young Luis Jose Maldonado, who is 16,” on Saturday, Cerrato told Radio Cadena Voces.

At least four armed men drove up to the house in an SUV, “burst inside and pointed weapons” at the journalist, other members of his family and servants, leaving them tied them up, Cerrato said.

The National Police and other law enforcement agencies are conducting extensive operations “to find the son of Eduardo Maldonado,” Cerrato said.

Maldonado, who is close to ousted President Mel Zelaya, has hosted the news and commentary show “Hable como habla,” which is broadcast on Radio Globo and Channel 12 television, for several years.

The journalist was a candidate in the ruling Liberal Party’s 2008 presidential primary, losing to Elvin Santos.

Santos lost the 2009 presidential election to opposition National Party candidate Porfirio Lobo, who takes office on Jan. 27.

The 16-year-old daughter of journalist Carol Cabrera, who hosts a show on state-owned Channel 8 television, was killed by gunmen on Dec. 15.

Catherine Nicolle Rodriguez, who was eight months’ pregnant, was riding in a vehicle with several other people when the attack occurred.

Cabrera hosts a talk show on Radio Cadena Voces and another on Channel 8, which she joined after the June 28 coup that ousted Zelaya.