Zambo mayor appeals for unconditional release of kidnapped teacher

From InterAksyon (Jan 6): Zambo mayor appeals for unconditional release of kidnapped teacher



Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar on Monday appealed to a still unidentified group of kidnappers to unconditionally release a 23-year-old public school teacher they abducted last month.

“Teachers are our heroes who provide education to young children. Teachers are now apprehensive to report to their work stations because of security concerns hampering the children’s education. We’re reiterating our appeal for the release of Cathy Casipong without conditions and to stop the abduction or kidnapping of teachers for ransom,” Salazar said.

The mayor said her office was informed that Casipong “recently contacted her district supervisor to inform about her situation” but she did not give further details.

“We’re with the parents, teachers, and the community in condemning the act of abducting teachers,” Climaco-Salazar said.

Casipong was abducted at around 3 p.m. on December 18 by eight armed men along the waters in Sitio Paraitan, Barangay Limaong, Zamboanga City. She was a teacher of Sibogtok Elementary School.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman of the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9), reported then that the abductors onboard two pump boats blocked the motorized boat and forcibly took at gunpoint the victim who was on board.

He said the suspects’ pump boats were yellow with white stripes and markings “Sangali.”

Huesca said the suspects, together with the victim, sailed toward Bacungan Island, Barangay Linguisan, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The victim was with her co-teachers identified as Menchie Vegilia, 24, married, and Michel Falcasantos y Tubig, 28, married, when abduction was happened. The boatman was identified as Akram Lauki y Omar, 19.

But the police still could not identify what group abducted Casipong.

Climaco-Salazar said she has been coordinating with authorities as well as officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) to find out the progress in the investigation.

She said all public school district supervisors of different elementary schools should coordinate with authorities in terms of security measures.

“Policies should be made to make them accountable in the protection of teachers. Teachers from island and coastal schools are directed to report to their respective district offices starting Monday. The same plan will be in place until such time that the teachers’ safety and security can be ensured by the said authorities,” the mayor said.

Abu Sayyaf has been identified as the perpetrators in some high-profile kidnappings in Zamboanga in recent years. Victims were brought to either Basilan or Sulu while ransom is being negotiated.

Just recently, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said at least 17 kidnap victims were still in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/78104/zambo-mayor-appeals-for-unconditional-release-of-kidnapped-teacher