Abducted Cagayan de Oro trader freed

Marawi City — After more than a month in captivity, a fish trader snatched in Cagayan de Oro City was finally freed unharmed in a remote village here before dawn yesterday.

"It was a negotiated release and I think, there was payment of an undetermined amount of money for ‘board and lodging,’" said Brig. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, commanding general of the 2nd Marine Brigade and head of Joint Task Force Ranao.

Dolorfino said businessman Leonardo Agan was released between 3 and 4 a.m. following negotiations by Lanao del Sur Gov. Aleem Bashier Manalao and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano.

Agan underwent tactical interrogation and medical examination before he was presented to the media yesterday afternoon.

Negotiations for Agan’s release went underway after the Marines received pictures of him with arms raised last Tuesday. His family earlier had asked his kidnappers to present proof of life.

Agan and his wife, Philadelphia, were kidnapped by armed men in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City last May 2. She was released hours later in Iligan City.

The kidnappers initially asked for a P2-million ransom, but subsequently reduced it to P1 million and finally to P500,000.

"The kidnappers actually abandoned (Agan) two weeks ago during a pursuit operation by the Marines somewhere in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, but a second group of armed men took him before the Marines could reach the area," Dolorfino said.