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Tuesday, February 17, 2004
P8-M ransom sought for kidnapped trader
By Allen V. Estabillo
* Husband of victim says they do not have the amount demanded by kidnappers
KORONADAL CITY -- Suspected Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang members holding a businesswoman from Lambayong town in Sultan Kudarat have demanded at least P8 million as ransom for the immediate and safe release of the victim.
Ruben Kansi, husband of kidnap victim Zoila, said one of the suspects called him over the weekend and informed him that they were holding his wife and would only release her upon compliance of their demands.
"They called me up the other night and demanded a ransom payment. But it's too big and we can't really afford them," he told a radio station Monday morning in the vernacular.
Kansi said his family is not capable of raising the sum.
"We're not rich. Even if we decide to sell all our properties, it would not reach a million pesos," he added.
At least 10 armed men seized Zoila, a grocery owner and softdrink dealer, while inside her store at the Lambayong public market at around 6:20 p.m. last Feb. 12.
The suspects escaped along with their victim through a waiting car.
The incident was witnessed by her husband Ruben, several market goers and store workers.
The burned getaway vehicle, a white Daewoo sedan with blue and red stripes and with plate number PFI-810, was later recovered by pursuing Army and police operatives in the outskirts of Barangay Pimbalayan in Lambayong.
Lambayong councilor Amy Corpuz said local officials as well as concerned community leaders are now working with the Kansi family to help negotiate for the safe release of Zoila who is reportedly being held along the Liguasan Mash in Maguindanao.
Corpuz assured that the local government of Lambayong, particularly its peace and order council (POC), is giving proper attention on the matter.
She said the town's POC has also set up mechanisms to prevent a similar incident from happening, particularly those in the alleged short list of probable kidnap victims.
Meantime, Brig. Gen. Agustin Dema-ala, commander of the Army's 301st Brigade, said pursuit and rescue operations continue against the suspects and their victim who have reportedly sought refuge in the marshlands of Sultan sa Barongis town in Maguindanao.
"We are tracking down their whereabouts and we're determined to pin them down as soon as possible," said Dema-ala, who earlier activated the Task Force Kansi.
The army official said the group of notorious kidnapper Mayangcang Saguile, which has allegedly allied with Pentagon founder Tahir Alonto, is now reportedly holding the victim.
He said Alonto and Saguile's group, which was also tagged in at least three other kidnapping cases in the province since last year, were particularly mentioned when the suspects called the victim's family over the weekend.
Dema-ala earlier tagged the alleged lieutenants of Alonto identified as certain Mantil Akang alias Commander Renegade and Mael Manginsa alias Commander Barman as behind the abduction.
However, Akang surfaced over the weekend, denying the accusations and saying he is a legitimate member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
(February 17, 2004 issue)
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