MARAWI CITY -- The son of an election commissioner kidnapped last week is being held unrestrained by his kidnappers somewhere in the hinterland town of Lumbayabao in Lanao del Sur, police said Friday.
Lanao del Sur Police Director Paniares Adap said police informants told them that they do not believe the kidnappers will harm Nuraldin Yusoph, the 22-year-old son of Commissioner Elias Yusoph of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
"Wala nga daw armas ang mga kidnappers at si Nuraldin ay hindi tinali (the kidnappers are not armed and Nuraldin is not being tied)," Adap said.
Nuraldin, who also heads the local Comelec office in Lanao del Sur, was kidnapped by unidentified men in Barangay Sabala Amao in Marawi City last Sunday.
His kidnappers, some of whom are allegedly his relatives, are demanding the nullification of the election results in the towns of Malabang, Pitong Taraka, and Masiu in Lanao del Sur.
Presidential Adviser Jesus Dureza flew to Marawi City Friday to negotiate the release of the young Yusoph.
"Our concern is to deliver Nuraldin to his father unharmed," Dureza said.
Dureza met with former Marawi City mayor Omar Solitario, Abbas Basman, and several Maranao leaders to discuss how to effect the release of the kidnap victim.
He said enlisting the help of these leaders would be a big factor for the safe release of Nuraldin.
Dureza also went on air at a local radio station appealing to the kidnappers and give out his cell phone number for them to reach him.
The result was mixed. Dureza said he got a lot of text messages before the day ended, including one message asking for a P1,000 phone load.
He was, however, elated when somebody gave him a two-page letter purportedly from Nuraldin's kidnappers.
"We are checking this letter for its veracity. We have to find out if what they claimed is true," Dureza said. (Froilan Gallardo/Sunnex)