A businessman was rescued after almost four months in captivity in Camarines Sur. Five of his alleged captors were arrested and P1.2 million in ransom was recovered in police operations.
Suspects Gerry Mancera, chairman of Barangay Maninila; Jefferson Cuachin, 26; Prudencio Ruiz, 59; Cesar Garcia Jr. and Joven Ortiz, 34, of Camalig, Albay were arrested.
Francis Leo Maulion was taken from his poultry farm in Barangay Kamuning in Calabanga town on Nov. 23, and was rescued on March 9.
SSupt. Glenn Dumlao, Anti-Kidnapping Group chief, said the family of Maulion sought the help of the police when the kidnappers did not release the victim after payment of P1.4 million on Jan. 16. He said the kidnappers contacted the family again and asked for a further P1.2 million.
Seven of the suspects escaped, but the police arrested Ortiz, who took the P1.2 million. The four other suspects were arrested when AKG operatives raided their safehouses, including one where Maulion was held.
Alleged KFR leader arrested in Mandaue City
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group Visayas Field Unit, with Naval Intelligence Security Group, arrested Mansor Manupac Mantawil, alleged leader of the Mantawil kidnap-for-ransom group, on March 11.
Mantawil was arrested along Ouano Avenue, Barangay Centro, Mandaue City for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, carnapping and robbery. He is listed in the PNP-AKG’s Most Wanted Kidnappers.
The group operates in Pagadian, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte, targeting well-off businessmen.
Abus kill Vietnamese hostage; release teacher in Jolo
The military confirmed that Abu Sayyaf bandits killed one of the six Vietnamese sailors kidnapped nearly a month ago off Pearl Bank in Tawi-Tawi.
Col. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said they received reports that the Abu Sayyaf killed one hostage while evading the military operations against the bandits in Tawi-Tawi.
The gunmen intercepted the M/V Giang Hai some 17 nautical miles off Pearl Bank, near the vicinity of Taganak Island.
The suspects killed one of the victims while aboard the cargo vessel and took six sailors hostage, although Sobejana said the Vietnamese taken from Pearl Bank were not brought to Sulu.
Aside from those Vietnamese sailors taken from Pearl Bank, the Abu Sayyaf has been holding captive six other Vietnamese sailors taken last November near Sibago Island off Basilan. The military said the bandits now have more than 30 hostages: 11 Vietnamese, one Dutch, one Korean, seven Indonesians, five Malaysians and eight Filipinos.
Meanwhile, Abu Sayyaf bandits released a public school teacher they seized in Patikul town in Sulu on March 10.
Policemen recovered Ibrahim Potong of the Jolo National High School on March 12, after the victim was seen in Maimbung. Potong was brought to a hospital for checkup and later reunited with his family.
The Sulu police said there was no immediate report if the victim paid ransom in exchange for his release.
Potong was riding his motorcycle on his way home from Patikul to Maimbung when the bandits took him at gunpoint.