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Friday, April 22, 2005
Students, workers saved from captors
By Lino dela Cruz
SAGUIARAN, Lanao del Sur -- At least 16 people mostly students and workers on their way to Marawi City Thursday morning were kidnapped and then rescued by a joint group of Philippine Marines and Philippine National Police (PNP).
Brigadier General Ben Dolorfino, commanding general of the Philippine Marines 2nd Brigade and Joint Task Force Ranao, said a passenger jeepney from Iligan City bound for Marawi City early Thursday morning was hailed by four armed men as it reached Saguairan town, Lanao del Sur.
A certain Colonel Arman Melo said guerrillas belonging to the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that is engaged in peace talks with the government helped pursue the kidnappers and blocked their path.
The armed men who boarded the jeepney at the Iligan City terminal posed as passengers.
One of the armed men sitting behind the driver ordered the driver to stop after firing one indiscriminate shot.
At least six other armed men apparently cohorts of the kidnappers already on board the jeepney then revealed themselves.
The armed men ordered the driver to proceed to Poona-Piagapo where all 16 passengers were told to walk towards the mountainous areas.
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However, three of the hostages were left behind because they could not walk faster and any further as the pursuing government troops were fast approaching.
As of 1:20 p.m. Thursday afternoon, General Dolorfino said all 16 passengers were already rescued by the joint team of Philippine Marines and PNP in the hinterlands of Poona Piagapo after a brief firefight with the armed men.
The pursuing policemen suffered one casualty. The identity of the slain policeman has not been released yet.
Among the kidnapped victims rescued by authorities are Joy Janice Closas, 24; Esterlita Gaas, 48; Noel Villacorte, 50; Monalinda Macarampat, 18; Rose Pascual, 18; Glorletta Castillano, 53; and Mauyag Cosain, the driver of the jeepney.
Brigadier General Dolorfino said authorities are still trying to establish the identity of the armed group and if it has links to any kidnap-for-ransom or other groups.
All 16 victims are now in the custody of the Philippine Marines led by Colonel Amando Melo and the PNP. The victims will be brought to the Philippine Marines 2nd Brigade headquarters in Iligan City.
Joint police and marine troops are pursuing the abductors in the mountain barangay of Piagapo. The place is said to be a lair of kidnap and robbery groups.
"We have rescued all kidnap victims," said Colonel Arman Melo. "There is an ongoing encounter. One policeman was killed in action. We're pouring troops in the area."
Captives
Six of the captive passengers, including the driver, an old man and two Muslim women, were released shortly after the abduction.
Officials said some of them bruised their feet during the uphill hike and could not walk fast enough while the kidnappers tried to flee from the military and police.
The freed captives told military officers the kidnappers were young bandits, Melo said.
He said the kidnappers were apparently not affiliated with any prominent crime group. However, they are worried the gang could have turned over their other victims to one of the notorious criminal gangs or other guerrillas in exchange for cash.
The remaining captives included 11 women, some of who were en route to take a college entrance exam at the state-run Mindanao State University in Lanao del Sur, an impoverished region where kidnappings for ransom has been a concern in recent years. (With AP/Wire reports)
(April 22, 2005 issue)
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