Abducted Globe engineers released

ILIGAN CITY — Three engineers working for Globe Telecoms kidnapped by bandits in Lanao del Sur last May 31 while surveying a possible cell site location in a hinterland town were released unharmed by their abductors on Sunday afternoon in Masiu town.

National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF) chief Secretary Angelo Reyes said the victims, identified as Jennifer Bergarola, Arsenio Polistico and Edwin Esguera, were abandoned by their captors inside the compound of the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City at around 6:05 p.m.

Elements of the Marines Battalion Landing Team-7, 1st Marine Brigade and military intelligence agents found the three inside an abandoned white Toyota van, with license plates WEZ-951.

The three were initially taken to a military hospital in Cagayan de Oro City for treatment before they were flown to Manila yesterday morning.

The Lanao del Sur provincial police earlier said the kidnappers demanded at least P7 million in ransom. But upon the victims’ release the other day, it was not known if ransom was paid or the usual "payment for board and lodging" was given to the kidnappers. Authorities refused to divulge the details of the negotiations.

Following the abduction of the three engineers, the Philippine Marines imposed a news blackout on the case so as not to jeopardize the rescue operations.

Philippine National Police (PNP)-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional director Chief Superintendent Isnaji Bantala said that authorities had difficulty tracing the whereabouts of the kidnap group and their victims because they had been transferring from one place to another.

But upon determining the location of the victims, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong coordinated wth Masiu Mayor Aminollah Arimao to negotiate with the kidnappers together with representatives of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Eid Kabalu, spokesman of the MILF, confirmed that Maranaw MILF commanders and Arimao, negotiated with the kidnappers to release the victims unharmed.

Kabalu also said that no ransom was paid for their release. He disclosed that the kidnappers who snatched the three Globe workers were followers of slain Pentagon kidnap gang leader Faisal Marohombsar.

Kabalu said the role of MILF forces in Lanao del Sur in helping the police and the military negotiate for the release of the victims was "a confidence-building measure aimed at improving the cordiality of the peace talks."

"Rebel forces in Lanao del Sur threatened to strike at the kidnappers to rescue the victims. The kidnappers must have been pressured to set the victims free after sensing that MILF fighters have started massing in the surroundings of their hideout," Kabalu said. — With John Unson, Jaime Laude, AFP