Kidnapped trader’s kin fear for his safety

COTABATO CITY — The family of an engineer-trader seized by the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang in North Cotabato two weeks ago has sought a "news blackout" on the victim’s captivity in the Liguasan Marsh.

The family of kidnap victim Bravick Araral is worried about the repercussions of last Wednesday’s foiled ransom payoff in Midsayap, North Cotabato where three of his captors, including one of the four founders of the Pentagon gang, were arrested.

Catholic radio station dxMS reported yesterday that the family of 66-year-old Araral, snatched two weeks ago in Libungan, North Cotabato, is ranting about the extensive media coverage of the kidnapping.

dxMS, an outfit of the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corp., quoted Araral’s wife as saying that the kidnappers have threatened to harm her husband if the media does not stop reporting on the negotiations for his safe release.

Araral’s relatives assured dxMS they will update the media on developments once they succeed in working out his release.

The police, led by Superintendent Chino Mamburam, arrested three of Araral’s kidnappers after receiving money from the victim’s family during a payoff in Barrio VI in Midsayap town.

The suspects — identified as Mike Tan, 38; Ting Sainudin, 20; and Faisal Guialuson Mama, 28 — yielded P114,000.

Also found in their possession were the clothes which Araral wore when he was snatched from his farm in Sinawingan district in Libungan town.

Further investigation revealed that Tan is actually Ebrahim Sagandal, alias Jun Sarat, one of the four known founders of the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang.

According to sources in the police intelligence community, it was Sagandal, implicated in more than 20 kidnappings, who masterminded the abduction of Araral.

Sagandal, along with the late Faisal Marohombsar and a certain Udasan and Teng, formed the Pentagon gang during a meeting at a roadside hotel in Digos City in April 2001.

Sagandal’s men are reportedly holding Araral captive in a marshy area at the North Cotabato-Maguindanao boundary. — John Unson