Security stepped up in North Cotabato town

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 22): Security stepped up in North Cotabato town

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato -- Police and military authorities here have established more checkpoints and deployed village watchmen to prevent a repeat of the abduction of a college student and prevent criminality hounding this progressive town.

Superintendent Renante Delos Santos, Midsayap police chief, said the augmentation of police multipliers like the Barangay Tanod (village watchmen) would help prevent kidnapping and other forms of criminality that have happened in Midsayap this month.

Mark Anthony Baya, 19-year-old student of the Notre Dame of Midsayap College, was freed by his captors after a negotiation initiated by North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza through Muslim provincial board member Kelie Antao.

Baya, son of retired Army Sgt. Balong Baya, was manning a family-owned variety store on August 10 in Barangay Tumbras when four gunmen forced him at gun-point into a waiting Mitsubishi sedan.

Then the suspects sped toward a remote village in the borders of Midsayap, North Cotabato and Mother Kabuntalan, Maguindanao.

After 10 days of captivity, Baya was released by his captors to government negotiators who insisted no ransom has been paid.

”Not even board and lodging fee,” Jessie Ined, provincial government representative to the negotiating panel, said.

He said Baya has undergone stress debriefing and medical treatment although he was not harmed by his captors.

Delos Santos said more checkpoints in all entry and exit points of Midsayap’s 40 barangays to prevent lawless elements from nearby province from entering the Poblacion.

Midsayap, a first class municipality, is North Cotabato first district’s business hub serving as the center of commerce and industry.

Curfew is still in in effect in Midsayap which starts at 9 p.m. for minors and 12 midnight for adults until 5 a.m.

The curfew was imposed by the local government unit, the police and the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion following a deadly car bomb attack in nearby Cotabato City that claimed eight lives and the bombing of a pawnshop along Rizal Avenue in Midsayap.

The kidnapping came amid heightened alert imposed by the local police at the town center where the bombing have occurred.

Delos Santos also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and on alert all the time, stressing “security issue is everybody’s business.”

”We are doing our part, please extend help by being vigilant and immediately alert the police should you notice suspicious bags, item, sack or anything left unattended in populated area,” delos Santos said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=557802