MILF kidnap group releases businessman

ZAMBOANGA CITY — A notorious kidnapping group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) released a businessman in Pagatin, Datu Piang, Maguindanao, after receiving P1.7-million in ransom from the victim’s family, a military official said here yesterday.

The victim, Arthur Yap, a native of North Upi town, was described as looking haggard when he was turned over to his family last Monday at about 11 p.m. in the swampy area of Barangay Pagatin.

Col. Fredesvindo Covarrubias, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines — Civil Relation Group (AFP-CRG) for Mindanao, said the hostage was handed over by the notorious kidnapping syndicate of the MILF led by Mayangkang Saguile alias Borong.

Covarrubias said Yap positively identified Saguile as the leader of his captors who brought him to Datu Piang and held him for 47 days.

"The kidnap victim also positively identified and confirmed that Commander Mayangkang Saguile as the one who received the ransom," Covarrubias said, quoting reports from ground troops.

Yap was immediately taken to the residence of his brother Ben Yap at barangay Tenorio in Datu Odin Sinsuat town where he was given rest and medication.

Covarrubias said elements from the 2nd Marine Brigade Control Team secured the residence and had not conducted any debriefing of Yap.

The MILF kidnapping syndicate led by Saguile abducted Yap last Nov. 1, in the morning, in Borongotan, North Upi, Maguindanao Province while the victim to was visiting his farm.

The suspects along with their captive businessman fled towards South Upi and later brought the victim to the marshy area of Datu Piang where Yap was held while the ransom demand of the group was negotiated.

The release of Yap has brought down the number of kidnap victims to only seven. Businessman Enrico Pelaez and nurse Anne Rachel Valmoria, both of Cagayan de Oro, Marilyn Tiu, of Alicia town, Zamboanga del Norte, and Abu Sayyaf captives American Jeffrey Schilling and Filipino Roland Ullah are still in the hands of their captors.

The last and latest kidnap victim was Danny Saavedra, a businessman who was seized by the MILF last Tuesday in Maitum town, Sarangani Province.

The kidnappers have not yet relayed any demands for the safe release of Saavedra, according to Covarrubias.

The MILF, which is fighting for a separate state in the South, has previously engaged in kidnapping and banditry. In the latest incident, on Dec. 19, MILF guerillas seized businessman Danny Saavedra in the town of Maitum.

The abduction took place despite a unilateral ceasefire by security forces against Muslim rebels until Dec. 26, called by the government in observance of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.