Kidnappers had released the Chinese trader and an engineer who were seized a week ago while on their way to Cagayan de Oro City after visiting a sister company in Lanao del Norte Wednesday last week.
Former Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano, who led the negotiations, said that Yaser Kalendada, division commander of the Lanao-based Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) command, has played a critical role in the successful release of the victims.
Robert Kua, owner of the wood-based Vicmar Company in Misamis Oriental and Findlay Miller Lumber Company in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, was released Tuesday night together with Edwin dela Torre, the company engineer.
Kua and dela Torre were on board the firm’s Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle on their way to Cagayan de Oro City when their vehicle was reportedly flagged down in barangay Buru-un in the town of
Police Senior Supt. Madid Paitao of the Lanao del Norte police command, said that the suspects commandeered the vehicle toward Tagolo-an in Lanao del Sur where the driver identified as Candido Mausisa was subsequently released.
Paitao said that Mausisa reported the incident a day after, prompting the police to immediately launch a search and rescue operation that led to the recovery of the Toyota Land Cruiser already abandoned in Tagolo-an, Lanao del Norte.
Emano said that the family of Kua sought help Thursday last week for the release of Robert Kua from the kidnappers who initially demanded an P80-million ransom.
He said that he kept the incident away from the prying eyes of the media so a backdoor negotiation could smoothly push through.
Emano said MILF Commander Kalendada voluntarily provided the necessary security during the negotiation while at the same time pressured the suspects to release the victims.
The Philippine government and the MILF signed a framework agreement last year as a prelude to ending the armed conflict in
Emano said the suspects released Kua and dela Torre without paying the ransom but the victims had to reimburse expenses incurred as “board and lodging”.
After their release, Kua told the negotiating panel that the kidnappers treated them well during their captivity.
Credit was also given to the assistance extended by city prosecutor Fidel Macauyag and the Office of Media Affairs headed by Regional Director Oggie Gandambra.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=591414
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