'Third party' seen involved in kidnapping of college vice president

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A “third party” is believed involved in the kidnapping of the vice president of Basilan State College.

Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar has ordered the Basilan Crisis Management Committee to investigate reports that other political personalities apart from the Abu Sayyaf took part in the kidnapping Dr. Orlando Fajardo earlier this month.

Akbar said she has information that other groups were behind the kidnapping of Fajardo.

“I want those behind this criminal act punished the soonest possible time,” she said.

Last Dec. 10, Fajardo was snatched near his home in Sumagdang, Isabela City, Basilan.

He was subsequently freed three hours before Christmas Day reportedly without payment of ransom.

However, the CMC disclosed his family shelled out P100,000 as subsistence for the medicine and food of Fajardo while in captivity.

On the other hand, Fajardo himself confirmed that his kidnappers initially demanded a P20-million ransom.

The amount was subsequently reduced to P4 million, but it was not known if ransom was actually paid for his freedom.

The provincial government is also looking into the cases of other kidnap victims still in the hands of armed groups operating in Basilan.

Among those captives were two Chinese nationals Bo Shung Tan alias Michael Tan and Zi Shun Lu alias Oscar Lu; and Filipino Donald John Capili.

Tan and Lu were snatched last Nov. 10, along with other Filipino worker Mark Singson, who was beheaded a week later. Capili was snatched last Aug. 28 in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte and spirited to Basilan. – Roel Pareño