Kidnapped Basilan landowner freed after paying P1-M ransom

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Kidnapping syndicate members of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) released Monday night the hostage village chief of Tuburan, Basilan reportedly after payment of P1 million in ransom, officials disclosed here.

Col. Saulito Aromin, Army’s 103rd Brigade commander, reported that kidnap victim Jose Bovito Mclintock was freed unharmed at about 11 p.m. Monday in the village of Calut, Tuburan town.

Mclintock, village chief of Barangay Maloong, Lamitan town, was held for 43 days after he was seized by the MILF rebels last March 18.

Aromin said Mclintock was freed following the negotiation by civilians and local leaders and pressure applied by the military forces. He neither confirmed nor denied reports that ransom was paid for the freedom of the victim.

But relatives of the victim disclosed that a P1-million ransom was paid to the kidnappers led by Usman Lidjal in exchange for the freedom of Mclintock who owns vast tracks of agricultural lands in Lamitan town.

The kidnappers earlier demanded a P10-million ransom, but it was lowered to P1 million after the Mclintocks said they could not raised the P10 million.

Aromin said Mclintock was recovered in the village of Calut, Tuburan by combined military and police contingents led by a certain Major Campued and Captain Mediante.

The victim was brought later to the headquarters of the 18th Infantry Battalion then to Lamitan Town District Hospital for medical check-up before he was reunited with his family at about 3 a.m. yesterday.

Mclintock was aboard a Mitsubishi Hilander when the kidnappers aboard another vehicle seized him at gunpoint.

The release of Mclintock leaves only one kidnap victim in the hands of the MILF in Tuburan — businesswoman Marilyn Tiu of Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay Province. — Roel Pareño