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Saturday, November 26, 2005
P20 million sought for businessman's release
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- The abductors of a businessman-farmer kidnapped in Cotabato last November 21 demanded a P20 million ransom for his release, an army commander said.
Col. Ruperto Pabustan, commander of the Army's 602nd IB, said authorities at around noon Wednesday in Kalanganan, Cotabato City, already recovered the victim's vehicle.
The vehicle's interior was stripped of valuables and its plate number replaced.
Pabustan said the victim, Engineer Bravic Araral, is believed to be somewhere in Liguasan Marsh where kidnap-for-ransom gangs are in hiding.
Araral was abducted in the village of Baguer in Libungan town around 7:45 Monday morning while visiting his farm.
North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Piñol said they are closely coordinating with the police and military to safely recover the victim.
Authorities linked the Pentagon Gang to the series of kidnappings of foreigners and local traders in Mindanao.
The group also snatched five Chinese engineers working on a government irrigation project in Carmen town in North Cotabato province in 2001 and killed two of the hostages.
The United States listed the Pentagon Gang as a foreign terrorist organization and offered rewards for the capture of its leaders. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(November 26, 2005 issue)
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