Abu Sayyaf kidnap police general's cousin

From the Manila Bulletin (Apr 20): Abu Sayyaf kidnap police general's cousin

Gunmen believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) abducted on Saturday a 53-year old man morning in Sulu who turned out to be a cousin of a police general assigned in western part of Mindanao.

Senior Supt. Antonio Freyra, director of the Sulu provincial police, said this was the second time that Reynato Yanga was kidnapped - the first was in 2005 wherein he allegedly did not cooperated with cops in terms of at least identifying his abductors.

"He owns a coffee shop in downtown Jolo where the incident occurred," said Freyra, adding that the incident happened at around 5:30 a.m. in Barangay Walled City.

While the incident occurred near the police station of Jolo, Freyra said there were heavy rains during the time of the incident, which might have prevented people from noticing the incident.

As soon as Yanga reportedly opened his coffee shop, at least five armed men barged inside and took him at gunpoint.

He was then boarded on a multicab before they the getaway car took off, leaving behind a motorcycle that was also used by the perpetrators.

The vehicle was later found abandoned in Barangay Asturias.

"We believe that this is a case of kidnap-for-ransom," said Freyra.

Yanga is reportedly a cousin of Chief Supt. Mario Yanga, the deputy regional director for Administration - the number two man in the Zamboanga Peninsula region.

Freyra said pursuit operations headed by the elite Marine commandos have already been launched to safely recover the victim.

Asked about the suspect, Freyra said they believe it was perpetrated by the Urban Terrorist Group of the Abu Sayyaf.

Kidnapping-for-ransom is a common easy money scheme in most parts of central and western part of Mindanao.

Aside from ASG, other armed groups are also engaged in the illegal activity, with some of them turning over their victim to the Abu Sayyaf, much like the recent case of Australian Warren Rodwell who was earlier released by his captors after allegedly paying P4 million.

http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=8496&sid=1&subid=5