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Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Marines foils Sayyaf kidnap attempts
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The military averted a plan by the Abu Sayyaf to kidnap prominent individuals, initially targeting three wealthy businessmen in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi anytime this month.
In Manila, a young hostage was recovered and an informant received a substantial bounty from President Arroyo Tuesday as the anti-kidnapping crackdown gathered steam, officials said.
Brig. General Nelson Allaga, 3rd Marine Brigade commander, said an intelligence unit of the Philippine Marines provided the information about the Abu Sayyaf's plan.
The plan was uncovered after military operation that seized three motor-outriggers last Friday at the Chinese Pier at Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
The Naval Task Force 62, under Capt. Feliciano Ange, took custody of the three motor-outriggers, while the Bongao police are trying to trace their owners.
Allaga refused to release the identity of the three businessmen. He assured though that the police are now securing them.
Police, on the other hand, recovered Tuesday a seven year-old-girl who had been abducted by unknown gunmen in Jolo 20 days ago, said regional police commander Chief Superintendent Isnaji Bantala.
Police, backed by soldiers, raided a house near the Jolo town of Talipao before dawn and found the girl inside but not her abductors, Bantala said.
The girl was snatched outside her school last month when gunmen killed the family driver. Two suspects were arrested earlier this month.
"The victim is okay and was brought to a military base where doctors examined her," Bantala told reporters.
Bounty
President Arroyo in Malacaņang presented a P1 million check to a masked, middle-aged man at an awards ceremony after the arrest of one of the country's most wanted kidnap suspects.
The native from Leyte Tuesday joined the millionaires' club after being awarded P1 million for providing information leading to the arrest of the number four most wanted kidnapper in the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force's (NAKTF) order of battle.
NAKTF chief Angelo Reyes, Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza, head of the AFP-NCR Command, and Region 8 police regional director Dionisio Coloma were among those present in the awarding ceremony.
Members of the police, the military and NAKTF arrested Allan Neigas, alias Chaploy, one of the sub-group leaders of the Waray-waray gang on Dec. 4, 2003 in Barangay Culasi-an in Capoocan, Leyte after receiving a tip on his whereabouts.
The awardee reportedly saw the picture of Niegas in the NAKTF's poster after it was flashed on television and immediately reported what he knew to the police.
Niegas was involved in six kidnappings in 2003 including that of Edwin Tan in February, Felipa Esteban in April, Lucia Viray in May, Letty Tan in June, Wilbert Uy in July and Borromeo Ang in August. He was also tagged in the Manikis kidnapping and Tanchay kidnapping, both on December 2002.
Arroyo ordered a crackdown on kidnap gangs last year after kidnappings surged to a 10-year high. (MES/JMR)
(March 10, 2004 issue)
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