Mindanao kidnap ring bosses named

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte tagged yesterday a police superintendent and a police inspector as leaders of a kidnap group operating in Southern Mindanao.

Duterte made the disclosure as he took a tougher stance against criminals and other troublemakers, including scions of rich families involved in drag racing, in the city.

"I have been telling these people not to mess around here, but still they persisted. They have been victimizing helpless people, and now I am facing them no matter who they are," Duterte said.

In his weekly "Para sa Masa, Gikan sa Masa" (For the Masses, From the Masses) television program, Duterte did not only identify suspected leaders of kidnap groups but also pinpointed their hideouts and named the vehicles they were using in their operations.

He said he would put an end to kidnapping not matter what it takes.

The mayor also vowed to stamp out the illegal drug trade in the city and go after the drag racers.

Intelligence reports had it that a kidnap group composed of at least 20 key members has been operating in Davao del Norte and South Cotabato provinces.

"I know who you are and who your families are. Do not ever believe that I cannot do what it is that you can do," the mayor said.

The list of suspected kidnap leaders reportedly included a police superintendent in Cotabato City and a police inspector in Digos, Davao del Sur who operate in connivance with former Muslim rebels.

Duterte said kidnappers in Southern Mindanao maintained strong connections with the Pentagon kidnap gang.

The mayor’s revelations came on the heels of last Tuesday’s rescue of Ma. Cecilia "Chiqui" Bonifacio, 22-year-old daughter of a wealthy car dealer based in Davao City, her secretary Fe Jayno and Jayno’s aunt Norma Jayno. The three women were snatched by armed men a week earlier in Davao City.

Duterte named Tahir Alonto, a foreign-trained commander of the secessionist Moro National Liberation Front, as the leader of the Pentagon gang, and Faizal Morhomsar, another MNLF commander, as Alonto’s henchman.

Morhomsar reportedly used to work for Emilie Morhomsar, his relative who was formerly president of the Mindanao State University in Marawi City.

Esmael Saapar, alias Tigre Jakiri, commander of the 204th Brigade of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), an MNLF breakaway faction, acted as the Pentagon’s adviser and consultant, Duterte said.

The list also included Islaw Bugso, another MILF leader with tactical base in Barangay Lapolabao in Hagonoy town, Davao del Sur where Bonifacio and her two companions were rescued by joint elements of the police and the military.

Others in the group were Sukarno Tua, a religious leader in Barangay Kleb in Hagonoy and an employee of the Davao Del Sur provincial capitol; another capitol employee identified only as Pintor;

Otik de la Cruz and Bapa Samod Kabilukan of Malalag and Malita towns in Davao del Sur, respectively, who were in charge of keeping two of the group’s vehicles, both Fuso Canters.

Four other MILF rebels identified as Saguille Maulana, Boy Hashim, and a certain Barotoc and his brother Ustadz Rajolen were also tagged as members of the Pentagon gang.

Barotoc and Rajolen were believed behind the Nov. 3 abduction of Canadian Pierre Belanger, who was rescued 50 days later in Buenavista district in Panabo City, Davao del Sur.

Areas tagged as the kidnappers’ sanctuaries included MILF camps in barangays Lapolabao and Kleb in Hagonoy, Barangay Madaum in Tagum City, Kidapawan City, Buluan town in Sultan Kudarat, Barangay Sirawan in Toril, Davao City; Camp Rajah Muda, and Buenavista district.

Apart from three Fuso Canters, the gang reportedly kept at least six motorcycles, two Mitsubishi L-300 vans, and two Toyota Corolla cars.