Peace advocates ask Aquino to look into rising kidnaps in South

MANILA, Philippines - A peace advocacy group from Mindanao has asked President Aquino to look into the worsening kidnapping problem in Western Mindanao following the abduction of a young businesswoman just days after the release of a nurse in Zamboanga City.

“We have looked forward to a peaceful and progressive Mindanao following the election of President Aquino but we are greatly disappointed because the kidnapping seemed to have been hitting closer to home months into the President’s term in office,” said Armand Dean Nocum, lead convenor of the newly formed Kristiyano-Islam for Peace Movement (Kris 4 Peace).

Nocum revealed that the recent kidnap victim – Olivia Barredo – is the wife of his cousin Kenneth.

Barredo was abducted by unidentified gunmen last March 3 in front of her house in Barangay Labuan, west of Zamboanga City.

The gunmen shot Kenneth three times but missed. The Barredos own a grocery store, a hardware shop and a pharmacy in Barangay Labuan.

“Mr. President, please look into the worsening kidnapping problem affecting my family and loved ones in Zamboanga City. Please make the lingering kidnapping in Mindanao part of your agenda,” said Nocum, adding that the President’s effort to effect peace with Muslim rebels will go to naught if people cannot even feel safe from criminals.

Nocum, who is married to a Muslim, lamented that Barredo’s kidnapping came days after kidnappers freed Maricris Cuartocruz, a volunteer nurse who was seized in Manicahan, Zamboanga City last Dec. 14 by so-called “lost command” rebels. Gunmen killed Cuartocruz’s 72-year-old grandfather during the kidnapping.

Both Kenneth and Cuartocruz are related to Nocum who hails from Manicahan, Zamboanga City. Manicahan is located a kilometer away from Sacol Island, known as the jump-off point of the Abu Sayyaf and other kidnap groups.

“Mr. President, they are taking my relatives one after another. Please help us by increasing military and police presence in my barangay and other areas where kidnappings occurred since you were elected into office,” Nocum said.

He said he had to come out with the plea because there are reports that more of his relatives are targeted for kidnapping.

Nocum, a former reporter of a national daily, has put up the A-Book-Saya Group (ABSG) project to help provide better education to poor Mindanao children, some of whom are being used by kidnapping groups – including the Abu Sayyaf – to spy on prospective victims or to serve as lookouts.

In 2008, the ABSG put up the Kristiyano-Islam (Kris) Peace Library which serves as a learning hub to tens of thousands of Christian and Muslim kids from 10 public elementary and high schools by providing free use of computers, books and reference materials.

The Kris library also finances the schooling of 67 scholars, provides free catch-up reading lessons and computer lessons to children who take basic computer lessons using cardboard and drawings in schools with no computers.

“We want to help children become peaceful and productive citizens in the future but we cannot turn a blind eye on the kidnapping incidents at present which victimize my relatives and friends,” said Nocum, who is now based in Manila.