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Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Alabel traders alarmed over crimes
By Aquiles Zonio
FEAR gripped the business sector in Alabel, Sarangani after one of its five members who received death and kidnap threats was killed more than two weeks ago.
The members of Alabel Chamber of Commerce and Industry are also anxious since the local police have made no progress in solving the incident.
Last June 3, Cipriano Ingkong, a rice and corn trader in this town, was robbed and killed by unknown suspects inside his own residence.
One of the utility workers of the victim was reportedly able to identify one of the suspects.
The wife of the victim is afraid to reveal one of the suspects since one member of the Alabel police force was allegedly implicated in the incident.
Prior to the Ingkong robbery-slay, a certain Jobert Bajarias, also a wealthy grains trader in Alabel, was kidnapped sometime in the first week of March while in Glan town, Sarangani Province.
Bajarias was released unharmed by his captors three days later in Ozamis City.
The victim transferred to another place after he was released, afraid that he would be kidnapped again.
Other traders who received extortion letters, death and kidnap threats were Miriam Ayuban, Joel Sunio and an unidentified grocery owner.
Sunio told Sun.Star that an undetermined number of suspected robbers twice attempted to enter his residence but backed off when his workers noticed them.
Just a week ago, Sunio said, he noticed a suspicious person outside his residence.
The business sector has been asking the local police to expedite the resolution of the Ingkong robbery-murder case but until now nothing has happened.
"We don't know who'll be the next," Vicente Gonzales, a member of the chamber, lamented.
They are asking Central Mindanao police director Chief Supt. Antonio Billones to immediately relieve all the members of the Alabel police force for their inability to protect the business sector.
Some members of the chamber also sought the help of Sr. Supt. Efren Yebra, regional director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Central Mindanao.
Yebra vowed to solve the Bajarias-kidnapping and Ingkong robbery-slay.
Meanwhile, chief inspector Eduardo Ortouste told reporters that his office had already done something to protect businessmen in Alabel.
He said that the houses of those who claimed to be in the target list of robbers and kidnappers were included in the periodic patrol being conducted by his men.
Ortouste, however, refused to comment on the reported involvement of one of his men in the Ingkong robbery-slay, claiming the case was already being investigated by the CIDG.
(June 23, 2004 issue)
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