Charges filed over principal's beheading

MANILA, Philippines - Several men, three of them identified, were charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention for the beheading of a school principal in Sulu last Monday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said charges of kidnapping with ransom and serious illegal detention penalized under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code were filed against Basarun Aruk, Edimir Isnain, Abdulatip Jalmaani and several others still unnamed for the beheading of Gabriel Canizares, principal of the Kanague Elementary School in Patikul town.

Verzosa, however, said a separate case for murder would be filed upon the completion of requirements such as the death certificate.

“For the meantime, the prosecutor advised the task force to file the kidnapping case,” he said.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said police have gathered more information for the filing of charges.

The severed head of Canizares, 36, a resident of Lower San Raymundo in Jolo who was abducted last Oct. 19, was found in a bag left at a gasoline station in the capital town before dawn Monday. His body has not yet been found.

Reports said Canizares’ kidnappers did not make public any ransom demand in exchange for his release, but there were reports that they had asked for P2 million.

The ransom was reportedly lowered to P1 million, but Canizares’ family raised and paid only P150,000, prompting the kidnappers to kill him.