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Friday, July 18, 2008
Bandits kidnap 2 Globe sub-contractors in Basilan
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Kidnap-for-ransom gunmen believed to have ties with Abu Sayyaf bandits seized Wednesday two sub-contractors of a giant telecommunications firm in the island province of Basilan, south of Zamboanga City.
The latest incident brought to three the total number of people being held captive by the same kidnap-for-ransom-group (KFRG) in the region, particularly in Basilan since January this year.
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Basilan police director Salik Macapantar said the two sub-contractors were seized shortly before noon Wednesday in the village of Languyan in the town of Mohammad Ajul.
Macapantar identified the victims as Pilardo Tolentino and Jayson Constancia, both residents of Switch Yakal village in Lantawan, Basilan and sub-contractors of Globe telecommunications firm.
Governor Jum Akbar, who condemned the kidnappers, has ordered all city and town mayors in her province to help locate the victims.
Ungkaya Pukan Mayor Joel Maturan said they will help locate and possibly seek the safe release of the victims even though they are being held in other towns.
Tolentino and Constancia, together with other sub-contractors, were returning home after inspecting a Globe cell site when the bandits waylaid the group and seized the two.
Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwem) chief Rear Admiral Emilio Marayag Jr. said 11 persons went to Mohammad Ajul but the nine others managed to escape.
Macapantar said the two sub-contractors were reportedly seized by the group of Usman Lidjal, a "lost command" leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who has formed an alliance with Abu Sayyaf bandits.
A text message sent to one of the broadcast journalists in Zamboanga City said the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of P3 million for the release of the two Glob sub-contractors.
Lidjal's group is also holding captive Preciosa Feliciano, a nurse of the Ciudad Medical Zamboanga. She was seized last July 9 in Zamboanga.
Feliciano was brought to Candiis village, also in the town of Mohammad Ajul.
Lidjal's group reportedly asked for a P10-million ransom for Feliciano but later reduced this to P3 million.
Macapantar noted that kidnapping-for-ransom "is becoming a means of a livelihood of Lidjal's group." (Bong P. Garcia/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (July 18, 2008 issue)
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