Kidnappers demand P60-M ransom for release of victims, says Pitogo town mayor

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 14): Kidnappers demand P60-M ransom for release of victims, says Pitogo town mayor

PITOGO, Zamboanga del Sur – The kidnappers are demanding P60 million as ransom for the safe release of the three victims abducted here last March 31, according to Mayor Richard Garban.

In a recent press conference held at his office, Mayor Garban identified the culprits as belonging to the lost command that demanded P30 million for each of the two remaining victims, Ace Jay Garban, 2, and Ledegie Tomarong, 17.

It could be recalled that Ace Jay Garban, Zynille Jay Garban, 3, and Ledegie Tomarong who were at the fish port, were forcibly taken as human shields by the abductors last March 31 at 5:45 p.m. while fleeing from pursuing policemen after a botched operation targeting a businesswoman, Chzarenia Kapa-Sajulga.

Three days after the incident, Zynille Jay’s dead body was found floating in the sea, causing panic among the residents.

The mayor said the kidnappers contacted their families and told them to raise the money.

“Dako kaayo ang kaguol ug kasubo sa mga pamilya sa biktima tungod sa dakong kantidad sa salapi ang gipangayo sa mga kidnapper bugti sa ilang kagawasan. Asa man nila pangitaon ang maong kantidad nga nga ibayad nila?  Tungod niini, kinasingkasing kami nga naghangyo sa mga kidnapper nga ilang buhian ang makalooy nga mga biktima,” Garban appealed.

(The victims’ families felt sad and worried because the amount demanded by the kidnappers is quite big. Where are they going to get that money? With this, we are heartily appealing to the kidnappers to release the victims.)

Tomarong’s parents are laborer and house helper. Ace Jay is a nephew of Punong Barangay Jayjay Garban.

The government is strictly implementing the “no-ransom policy” in dealing with the kidnappers.

Mayor Garban said “the suspects have also their own families and they have children too. I believe the abductors know deep in their hearts that they are also human beings and they can understand the sad fate of their victims.”

The police and local officials are still clueless as to the location of the victims. “We don’t have an idea where exactly the victims are,” Garban reported.

Law enforcement agencies are incessantly doing sea patrols along the municipal waters of the neighboring towns to recover the victims. 

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1371428981597/kidnappers-demand-p60-m-ransom-for-release-of-victims-says-pitogo-town-mayor