Pentagon frees Cotabato man after 10 months in captivity

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Philippine National Police announced yesterday the release of a South Cotabato resident who was held captive by the dreaded Pentagon gang for almost 10 months.

PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said during a command conference at the regional police headquarters here, that Senior Superintendent Paniares Adap, Sultan Kudarat police director, had reported the rescue of businessman Richard Anasco.

The Pentagon gang led by Commander Saeed Ali, abducted Anasco, 24, on July 22 last year, mistaking him to be a big-time businessman in Polomolok, South Cotabato.

Ebdane said Anasco’s release was made possible through the efforts of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Northern Mindanao Task Force led by Lt. Col. Rolando Picar, commanding officer of the Army’s 66th Infantry Battalion.

Ebdane said MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu turned over Anasco to the Sultan Kudarat police in Isulan town in the presence of Director General Virtus Gil, PNP deputy director for operations; Chief Superintendent Antonio Billones, Central Mindanao police director; Chief Superintendent Silverio Alarcio, director of the PNP Special Action Force; and Senior Superintendent Aliakbar Bancola, deputy regional director for administration of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police.

"It was a case of mistaken identity," said Ebdane. "He’s in good physical condition upon his release."

Police said Anasco was held captive in Kabuntalan, Maguindanao.