Rivalry or just drama?: Wife of religious leader abducted

CEBU, Philippines - The wife of the leader of a religious group was abducted late Monday night by three men on board a blue Mitsubishi Lancer in barangay Labangon.

More than a day after the incident, the family of the victim, Judith Jastiva, 39, haven’t heard from the abductors.

Jastiva was on board a motorcycle driven by her husband, Leonardo Biljod Jastiva, Sr., 42, of San Isidro, Talisay City.

The husband alleged that three men on board the car, which he said followed them from a mall in barangay Apas, pointed a gun at them and asked his wife to go with them.

Before they left, they tied the hands of Leonardo to the handlebar of the motorcycle using a chain and a padlock.

He said that the two men, who approached them did not even bother to cover their faces and were both armed with what he thinks were caliber .38 revolvers.

Leonardo is the nationwide president of International Missionary Society of Seventh Day Adventist Church Reform Movement. His wife is a reflexologist.

He claimed that they were on their way home from the mall when the abduction took place around 8:30 p.m.

Leonardo said that the men found the chance to pounce when his motorcycle conked out. 

He said that his pleas for help from people who passed by were not heeded and it was a man on board another motorcycle, who called for police assistance.

It took the police about 30 minutes to free Leonardo from the chain.

He said that after the men told his wife to ride the car, one even kissed her and then the group laughed before speeding away towards Salvador St.

Police believe that the abduction might have something to do with the rivalry of two groups.

The Jastiva couple reportedly came from barangay Banilad where they met with a member of their congregation.

Prior to that, Judith was in barangay Lahug where she had a patient.

Leonardo said that he has been receiving threats through his cellular phone.

The latest came last January 5 where the sender said, “Cge meg, hutda members namo, hurot sad family nimo.”

Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Jr., Director of the Cebu City Police Office, said that the motive of the incident is due to a religious conflict. He doesn’t believe it is a kidnap for ransom case.

Sr. Insp. George Ylanan, chief of Intelligence Division and Management Branch, said he had talked with the president of the rival group.

Ylanan said that the head of the rival group alleged that the Jastivas might have just played up the whole incident.

The police were also told that the mother organization would allow the leaders to move to New Zealand for good if there is a threat to their lives.

Leonardo said that he hopes that his wife would be released as they are waiting to leave for New Zealand.

Leonardo said that he has about 1,500 members nationwide, but there are only 50 members here in Cebu.

He was assigned in Cebu as leader of the group since 1996. They are natives of Dipolog City.

The said group, which he claimed to be their rival, allegedly split up with them last 1951 and formed another reform group.–/NLQ   (THE FREEMAN)