Saturday, July 10, 2004 Alert up against kidnap groups in Western Visayas By Avelyn Z. Agudon
ALL police units in Negros Occidental were placed on alert against the reported regrouping of kidnap-for-ransom and robbery activities of the notorious Ilonggo Group in Western Visayas.
Senior Supt. Mark Edison Belarma, acting police provincial director, said the alert order was from Chief Supt. George Aliño, regional police director.
He said Aliño ordered the conduct of a constant monitoring of the syndicate's movement.
Belarma echoed Aliño's appeal to the public to be vigilant and report to the nearest police unit the presence of suspicious looking persons in their community to pre-empt kidnapping activities.
He also called on residents in Western Visayas to desist from cracking jokes about any kidnapping activities, specifically through text messages.
Belarma said that early this month, he personally received through a text message that kidnapping suspects were spotted on board a certain Honda Civic vehicle.
When they intercepted the vehicle, it was found out that those inside the car were not members of any kidnapping group but individuals belonging to middle-class families.
"One should not play a joke out of it (kidnapping)," Belarma said.
Based on police records, the last kidnapping incident in Bacolod City was that of businesswoman Teresita Cokin.
Cokin was abducted in July 15, 1995 and her body was found in a shallow grave in Anilao, Iloilo in Aug. 7, 1995.
Among the suspects who were meted a death penalty that the Supreme Court affirmed only last month were John Mamarion, Chief Insp. Rolando Maclang and Charlito Domingo.
Belarma said 18 years ago, three kidnapping cases in Negros Occidental were reported involving a scion of a wealthy family.
The regrouping of the kidnap-for-ransom group was first reported in Iloilo City based on the intelligence report from military and police sources.
The Ilonggo Group is also suspected to be behind the robbery/hold-up incidents in Metro Manila.
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