Retired Cotabato teacher abducted

COTABATO CITY — Suspected members of the notorious Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang snatched a retired public school teacher here the other day, the third abduction in Central Mindanao in three months.

Reports said the abductors of Domingo Cubita are demanding P8-million ransom.

Elements of the 2nd Marine Brigade found the abandoned Toyota Revo of Cubita in the town proper of Pikit, North Cotabato yesterday.

Cubita’s relatives are convinced that he was snatched here and that his vehicle may have been brought to Pikit to divert pursuing lawmen.

Pikit is not far away from the vast Liguasan Marsh, a known haven of kidnapping gangs identified with the Pentagon.

Citing reports, Col. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino, Marine commander in Pikit, said two men parked Cubita’s vehicle near the town’s public market.

"I am convinced that the vehicle was only brought to Pikit to confuse investigators," he said.

Maj. Gen. Generoso Senga, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the Marines and the 602nd Infantry Brigade are now helping each other locate Cubita.

Cubita’s abduction came just a month after henchmen of Pentagon’s elusive leader, Tahir Alonto, snatched businesswoman Zuela Cansi in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat.

Preceding it was the kidnapping here last December of car dealer Norman Sia by three Maguindanaoan-speaking men during a road-test of a Kia Pride he was selling to them.

Authorities are still clueless on the whereabouts of Cansi and Sia.