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Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Captors demand P20 million from trader's kin
By Joey P. Nacalaban
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The armed men who abducted a fish trader Monday dawn has demanded P20 million from his family for his safe release, a police source said.
The same source added Leonardo Agan's abductors have made several calls to the family since the abduction.
Armed men abducted Agan and his wife Philadelphia while they were on their way to the West Bound Terminal in Barangay Bulua in this city to attend to their business. The kidnappers released Philadelphia hours later in Iligan City. She managed to return to their house in Mt. Kitanglad in Barangay Patag, also in this city.
City police led by Director Honorio Cervantes talked to Philadelphia at her home in Mt. Kitanglad in Barangay Patag but did not give details of what transpired.
A source said, however, that Philadelphia was still in a state of shock that she could not relate how she got back to Cagayan de Oro.
The Agan family held a press briefing inside their home but only Acer Amahan, Philadelphia's elder brother, answered questions from reporters.
The family, during the conference, appealed to the kidnappers to spare the life of their father and begged the media to avoid sensationalizing the incident so as not to jeopardize the ongoing negotiations between authorities and the suspects.
It was not known if the family would yield to the abductors' demand of P20 million in exchange for Leonardo's release.
Family members and close relatives of the Agans met over the problem Tuesday.
Leading in the investigation on the case is the Presidential Anti-Crime Emergency Response (Pacer), assisted by other law enforcement agencies including the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo).
Amid speculations it had something to do with the kidnapping, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) based in Lanao province disowned any role in the incident.
Muslim leaders in the city expressed support to City Hall's objective to have the matter resolved immediately.
Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) Director Ombra Gandambra and Land Transportation Regulatory and Franchising Board (LTFRB) 10 Director Mandangan Darimbang said they were concerned about what happened.
Director Gandambra said Muslims in the city are also worried over Leonardo's abduction.
Last month, a Muslim trader was also abducted and kidnappers demanded P1.5 million for his release. The victim's wife later identified one of the suspects as Police Officer 3 Mamalinta Masacal of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo).
Gandambra called on the national leaders and all concerned agencies to act immediately on the incident.
"Muslim, Christian and lumads will be adversely affected by this," the OMA 10 official said.
Darimbang said Muslim leaders in the city will do all they can to help the family. He said Muslims are holding meetings to map out their actions. (With reports from Sun.Star Superbalita)
(May 4, 2005 issue)
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