While abductions were pulled off in the region in the 1960s, kidnappings only became rampant following the trend set by Commander Mubarak, leader of the National Security Command, an elite MNLF combat unit.
Mubarak, whose real name was Abogado Gado, was killed in a shootout when Marine troopers raided his hideout in Pantukan, Davao del Norte on Dec. 7, 1992.
Mubarak is believed to have masterminded the kidnapping of 89 wealthy Chinese-Filipino residents of Cotabato City and nearby provinces in 1990.
During Mubarak’s heyday, reports made the rounds that soldiers and policemen were involved in kidnapping.
Intelligence sources said Mubarak and his men raked in at least P130 million in ransom in two years of kidnappings and other illegal activities.
Mubarak reportedly gave part of his loot to cohorts in the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police.
After Mubarak’s death, his lieutenants agreed to reorganize the gang into smaller groups so they could be more effective in their operations.
One of Mubarak’s lieutenants, a notorious kidnapper named Faisal Marohomsar, a Maranaw, is a key leader of the Pentagon kidnap gang.
The others are Mayangkang Saguille, Sammy Tilaka and Musa Ali, all Maguindanaoans.
Between 1998 and 2000, Marines attached to the disbanded Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) "neutralized" 48 members of kidnap gangs in Central Mindanao.
Most gangmen, some of whom had warrants for their arrest, were killed in a shootout or gunned down while trying to escape from military detention.
When the Marines were redeployed to Sulu and Basilan early this year, a kidnapping scare was said to have gripped Central Mindanao.
Local officials said kidnapping could be stopped if the government develops the region, where kidnap gangs are believed to be holed out.