Kidnappers demand P6-million ransom for 3 teachers

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Kidnappers holding three teachers hostage yesterday demanded a P6-million ransom for the release of their captives.

It was not clear which group was holding them but the demands were reportedly relayed to the families through the cellphones of the hostages.

“They are asking P6 million for all the hostages or P2 million each. Where are we going to get the money to pay them? We are poor,” a brother of one of the hostages told reporters here.

Another of the victims’ relatives added the kidnappers had told him that they were already in Basilan.

The three teachers – Janette de los Reyes, Rafael Mayonado and Freires Quizon – were snatched by armed men off Sacol Island, half a mile east of this city last Friday.

Authorities, however, could not confirm the ransom demand even as local officials appealed to the families not to pay.

A police official confirmed the three teachers were brought to Basilan but could not confirm the ransom demand.

Senior Inspector Manubibah Akibba said he was able to talk with De los Reyes, who informed him they were already at the foot of a mountain somewhere in Basilan, hours after they were snatched Friday morning.

Akibba said De los Reyes had told him that their captors did not blindfold them.

Akibba, however, said there was no mention of any ransom demand during the brief conversation.

The police and the military said no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, although operations have been launched to locate the teachers.

Commodore Alexander Pama, Naval Forces Western Mindanao chief and fleet-marine operation commander, said they had information that the hostages were taken to Basilan, in an area where Islamic militants from the Abu Sayyaf and pirate groups are known to operate.

“These are subject for validation but indications point to the possibility that they are already in Basilan,” he said.

Pama warned they would deal with any armed groups who would stand in the way of search and rescue operations for the three captive teachers.

“We will run after these criminal elements, specially this kidnap for ransom group in Western Mindanao. And if some groups would stand in the way, then they would be considered as part of these criminal groups, no matter what group they belong to,” he said.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, for his part, appealed to the kidnappers to release the three teachers.

“Our teachers should be spared from criminal acts like this. How can we inspire our teachers to perform their duties well when we do not give them the respect they deserve?” Lapus said.

Lapus tasked Education Undersecretary Ramon Bacani to coordinate with the authorities to ensure the safe return of the victims.

The militant Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said the kidnapping of the teachers was an example of government’s failure to ensure the security and safety of public mentors.

“Apparently, the government can’t even guarantee the security of our public school teachers in areas such as Mindanao. This squarely falls on the PNP’s (Philippine National Police) responsibility. Why was there such a failure of the PNP to protect these teachers?” ACT national chairman Antonio Tinio said.

Another group, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), condemned the kidnapping of their colleagues.

“TDC Mindanao condemns the act of abducting public school teachers,” said Felipe Degamo Jr., TDC vice chairman for Mindanao. – With Rainier Allan Ronda