Police foil kidnap try on Chinese traders

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  – Policemen and the Marines foiled another kidnap attempt on Chinese businessmen (name withheld) here Friday night with the arrest of five suspected kidnap-for-ransom gang members, police said yesterday.

Superintendent Danny Reyes, city police director, said the suspects were on board a Blue Nissan patrol suspiciously roaming around the city at past midnight Friday.

He identified the suspects as Morshid Mabang, Samindatu Laguia Muda, Nonoy Masdal, Bayang Masdal and Mahatma Ampatuan, all residents of Barangay Macasampen, Guindolongan, Maguin­danao.

Reyes said the gunmen have six .45 caliber pistols and two hand grenades when accosted by Marines and policemen at about 12:30 a.m. at the corner of Sinsuat Avenue and Pansacala street.

“We are confirming their identities with those in the order of battle against kidnap gang members,” Reyes said, adding that based on intelligence reports they were planning to snatch a wealthy Filipino-Chinese trader.

“They were on a surveillance mission in the city, gathering information on kidnappables when arrested,” Reyes said.

With the arrest of five suspects, the number of persons arrested in connection with the rash of kidnapping cases here rose to seven.

Two persons were arrested Saturday last week, who, police believed were involved in the kidnapping of Filipino-Chinese trader Jinky Yap.

Yap, owner of a mini-grocery here, was released on Sunday after her family paid an undetermined amount of ransom.

Eulogio Adin Yu, owner of a hardware store here, remained captive since Jan. 8.