Capitol helps Basilan kidnap victim

CEBU, Philippines - The Capitol has extended assistance to the family of Cebuano kidnap victim Virgilio Fernandez to ensure their safety and stay in Lamitan City, Basilan while awaiting development on his condition.

A day after Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced that the Province is willing to help, the victim’s wife Shirley and her three sons, Neil, Pierre and John Paul, approached her to ask for help in person.

An earlier report identified Shirley as the wife but records at the Capitol showed that the name is Asuncion “Shiony” Fernandez.

The Province of Cebu shouldered the airfare of the family to Lamitan City with an undisclosed amount of money to be spent during their stay.

Garcia said she is also coordinating with the Provincial Government of Basilan to extend whatever assistance they could give to the family.

She said the governor was already informed that the family will go there.

The Police Regional Office 7 is also coordinating with the police in Zamboanga and Basilan for the security of the family while in Basilan.

Garcia said she was given updates from the governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao but she could not reveal these. The family of Fernandez asked for a news blackout on the kidnapping as advised by Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, the cousin of Virgilio.

Virgilio, an engineer who worked for Mace Construction was reportedly kidnapped by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits last Saturday. (FREEMAN)