Kato followers tagged in Cotabato kidnapping

MANILA, Philippines - The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) was tagged in the kidnapping of a 70-year-old gasoline station owner and her secretary in Libungan, North Cotabato last Tuesday.

Sources told The STAR yesterday that based on field reports, the group of Datu Khan Usman and Kadfi Hamilon transferred Alma Cuan and her 19-year-old secretary Cristabelle Joloran from their hiding place in Talayan to an area in Datu Odin Sinsuat Tuesday night. 

“They’re highly mobile, moving their victims, from one place to another to evade ongoing rescue operations,” the report said. 

The report added that 70 heavily armed BIFM members are guarding the kidnap victims. 

Police earlier recovered the kidnappers’ getaway vehicle abandoned near Liguasan Marsh. 

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has mobilized its Task Force Ittijad to assist government forces in rescuing the kidnap victims.