P15-M ransom sought for SK officer

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The abductors of a female Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) federation president in Zamboanga Sibugay have reportedly demanded P15-million ransom in exchange for her safe release, a police official said.

Senior Superintendent Roseller Arieta, Zamboanga Sibugay police director, said this information was relayed by the mother of the victim, 18-year-old Iris Sarmiento, the SK federation president in Naga town.

Arieta said they are now verifying the ransom demand and coordinating with the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to determine the identity of the abductors.

He, however, expressed doubt if the Sarmientos could shell out the huge amount, saying they are not well-off.

"We are looking into different angles in this abduction because there were earlier reports that (there might be) something of a love angle, but this cannot be proven immediately," Arieta said.

Sarmiento was riding tandem with her fiancé, Safari Basa, 19, on a motorcycle when they were flagged down in Payao town last Monday afternoon.

Basa, also an SK chairman, was later freed and reported the incident to the police.