Kidnappers ‘sell’ Cotabato trader

COTABATO CITY — Kidnappers have reportedly "sold" a local Chinese trader snatched here last month to a bigger gang in Lanao del Sur led by dreaded kidnapper Faisal Marohomsar who has a P1-million bounty on his head.

This came after Marohomsar announced over Catholic station dxMS here yesterday that Vicente Yu, owner of a big dry goods store here, is now in his territory in a coastal town in Lanao del Sur.

"I can establish contact between him and his family if they want," Marohomsar said in halting Filipino.

Marohomsar, a Maranaw who belongs to an influential clan in the second district of Lanao del Sur, said Yu’s abductors were his former followers who had moved in to his hideout because of continuing pressure from police and military pursuit operations.

Sources, however, said the first captors of Yu sold him to Marohomsar for P600,000.

"They are worried Yu could be rescued from them soon as they do not have the firepower and men to fight lawmen in their territory in Maguindanao, so they passed him on to Marohomsar," said a Muslim leader in Malabang town who requested anonymity.

Datu Tucao Mastura, former mayor of Sultan Kudarat who is helping negotiate for Yu’s release, said they still have to validate the report before dealing with Marohomsar.

Through the intercession of Mastura, kidnappers freed Saturday night Michael Ang, a wealthy merchant who was snatched here last Sept. 15 by five armed suspects while on his way to his store at the local public market.

Ang’s release was preceded by the rescue Friday of Al Vincent Uy, who was abducted near the Notre Dame of Midsayap High School. The rescue was spearheaded by Mastura and his men, backed by elements of the Army’s 3rd infantry battalion.