MSU president willing to parley for prof’s release

ILIGAN CITY – Officials of the Mindanao State University (MSU) and authorities have expressed willingness to negotiate for the safe release of a school professor abducted here last week.

Flora Manulat, wife of victim Rhede Nelson Manulat, told The STAR that her husband’s supposed abductors called yesterday morning to follow up their ransom demand of P2 million and whether MSU president Dr. Camar Umpa would be willing to negotiate for the release.

Manulat said Umpa then relayed his willingness to negotiate with the kidnappers, who were supposedly a group of former school guards forced into kidnapping after they were not paid their salaries.

Umpa assured the supposed kidnappers that members of a task force he had earlier organized are now trying to make contact to set a meeting in a still undisclosed place.

Umpa earlier reiterated the no ransom policy of the school after which he initially rejected the demands of the kidnappers.

Manulat, a business administration professor, was among those who were earlier snatched aboard a Marawi City-bound passenger jeepney last Wednesday.

Three MSU coeds were later rescued Thursday night by the police without any ransom being paid.

Police investigators said they are looking into the possibility that separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas carried out the kidnapping.

The kidnappers reportedly identified themselves later through a text message sent to Mrs. Manulat as Commander Vietnam and Commander Alvin.