FOUR of the six individuals abducted by still unidentified armed men in
Police said most
of those kidnapped, who were taken against their will in Linamon town, Lanao de
Norte, are either students or had been students of the Mindanao State
University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) based in Iligan.
Senior
Superintendent Edgar Daniel, Iligan
City police director, told
reporters in an interview that the students were on board a vehicle en route to
Pagadian city when flagged down by the suspects in Linamon.
In a press
release issued by the MSU-IIT Office of Publication and Information (OPI),
the University identified the abducted persons as Juhary Gubat, a freshman
General Education student, Kevin Limpin, an IIT alumnus, Hannah Yurong, a
former IIT student, Berzon Rey Paeste, a senior AB History student, from
Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, Cid Rick Jamias, 5th year BS Electronics and
Communication from Tacurong City. Only Eloisa Lacson is non-IIT student.
Rescued were
Gubat, Limpin, Yurong, and Lacson, police said.
The OPI said the
students were hanging out at a gasoline station in Barangay Tibanga, Iligan City
and were last seen on board a white van, allegedly driven by Gubat's cousin,
with plate number KGJ-661.
A composite team
composed of police from Iligan, Lanao del Norte, government soldiers and
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents conducted the rescue.
Authorities,
however, did not divulge the details of the operation leading to the rescue of
the abductees.
Daniel said the
group was supposed to bring Paeste and other companions to their homes but was
taken by armed men instead.
He said the
victims were blindfolded and taken to a secluded area where they were asked
about their parents’ jobs.
Daniel said NBI
operatives had tracked down the location of the abductees through their
cellphone signals.
He added the
signal was traced to Bacolod ,
Lanao del Norte. It was also believed the victims were brought to Munai town,
also in Lanao del Norte.
As of June 7, all
the released persons are in hiding fearing for their lives.
Paeste and Jamias
are still being held captive by the unidentified armed men.
Police
Superintendent Surki Sereñas, Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao
spokesperson, said investigation on the case is still ongoing especially that
two have remained captives.
"Accordingly,
gikan daw sila sa Lanao del Norte area. Pero so far, wala pa ta kabalo unsay
motibo ngano nga gi-kidnap allegedly ni sila. We are still investigating
kung kidnapping ba gyud ang nahitabo ug unsa ka tinuod nga ang nabilin is for
ransom na," Sereñas said.
He said the
Iligan City Police are still waiting for the report of the victims' parents or
relatives about the incident.
A close friend of
missing Paeste who requested not to be named, said in an interview they were
alarmed when Paeste failed to return their calls since Saturday night.
"I tried
contacting him but he couldn’t be reached," he said.
The source said
Paeste is friends with Jamias and Gubat.
Asked if Paeste
is involved in any organization, the source said Paeste plays drums in a local
band which doesn’t have any out-of-town gig for quite a while now.
Kabataan
Partylist coordinator Vennel Chenfoo said the organization will monitor the
case.
"Alarming
nga naay ingani na mga butang gakahitabo nga mga cases nga dakong problem gyud
sa mga kabatan-onan karon. Hinuon, amo gyud pirmi ginasulong nga ang
kabatan-onan makigduyog sa nation-building pero usahay kini nga role
kinahanglan pa mapasabot sa ila," he said.
Also a student of
MSU-IIT, Chenfoo reminded students to be on guard on their safety and remain
vigilant always.
MSU-IIT
Chancellor Sukarno Tanggol assured that the school is working closely with the
authorities to assure the safety of the students.
In Iligan City ,
Nida Yurong, Hanna’s mother, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that her daughter
narrated they were on their way to Maranding, Lala, Lanao del Norte.
But, they were
flagged down by armed men and transferred to another vehicle.
“They were
blindfolded and their mouths were plastered with duct tape. They were provided
with ‘malong,’ food and later walked for about two hours to a place they don’t
know where though they passed by at Panggao Elementary School which is in Munai
town,” said Nida adding “palangga daw sila didto sa bukid.”
Nida said Hanna
and the three others arrived in Yurong’s house at around 12:30
a.m. on June 7. “They were in trauma,” Nida said.
She further said
Hanna and her friends were dropped at Linamon town and were given money for
fare back to Iligan city.
Nida said they
won’t file a complaint adding “what’s more important is that Hanna is home now.”
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2016/06/07/4-6-abducted-persons-lanao-norte-released-478179
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