112 kidnapped in Mindanao last year - Southcom

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- At least 112 people were kidnapped by armed groups in and around Mindanao last year, a top military official said yesterday.

Southern Command (Southcom) chief Lt. Gen. Edgardo Espinosa said 96 of those kidnapped were released either through negotiation or through payment of a ransom.

Five escaped from their kidnappers, two were rescued by authorities and three were killed by their abductors.

Six are still being held captive, Espinosa said after a conference of top military and police officials here.

One of those still being held was identified as Renato Tan who was kidnapped in Davao City way back on July 6. The others are Kessha Dacuyan (Iligan, March 17); Jojo Casas (Bukidnon, Sept. 2) Lina Madrazo (Davao Oriental, Oct. 14); Joseph Calsada (Basilan, Nov. 14); and Ralph Fonda (Zamboanga del Sur, Nov. 17).

Espinosa said the largest number of kidnappings were carried out by the separatist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) or armed gangs connected to them. They were followed by the extremist group Abu Sayyaf, the communist New People's Army (NPA) and various bandit groups.

He did not give a breakdown of how many each group had seized.

Espinosa pointed out, however, that the number of kidnapping cases have dropped due to police and military vigilance and coordination with civilians.