Woman freed by Pentagon captors

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang freed yesterday a woman it seized in SK Pendatun, Maguindanao, a military spokesman said.

An unspecified sum was reportedly paid as ransom for the release of Roxas Dacil, 47, but her family denied this.

Lt. Col. Fredesvindo Covarrubias, chief of the 4th Civil Relations Group, said Dacil was released after three days of captivity by the group of Commander Usop Hadj Abas, a leader of the Pentagon gang, in SK Pendatun town.

Authorities are still tracking down the captors of car dealer Norman Sia, who was snatched by three men while road-testing a car in Cotabato City last Dec. 8.

The military believes that Sia is being held captive by the group of Pentagon leader Tahir Alonto in Datu Piang, Maguindanao. — Roel Pareño