Marawi trader’s son, engineer freed

Balo-i, Lanao del Norte — The kidnapped son of a Marawi City businessman and his companion, an Iligan City engineer, were released unharmed Friday night in a remote area here, the military said.

However, there was no word if any ransom was paid for the release of Gerald Tomawis, son of a Marawi City trader, and engineer Vincent Jariol, whose wife is the Social Security System manager in Iligan.

Brig. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, commanding general of the 2nd Marine Brigade and Joint Task Force Ranao, said he was not aware of any ransom payment since Balo-i Mayor Elias Ali led the negotiations for the victims’ release.

After seizing Tomawis and Jariol in Iligan City last Thursday, the kidnappers demanded ransom, but the authorities did not disclose the amount.

Tomawis and Jariol were released one after the other before midnight Friday in a remote sitio in Barangay Olango here.

Ali and other Maranaw leaders negotiated the release of the two, while Marines and local policemen scoured the boundary of the two Lanao provinces for the kidnappers’ lair.

Police said the mounting search for the two victims could have pressured the kidnappers into releasing them.

Tomawis and Jariol were first brought to Pantao-Ragat town and later to this municipality.