Various groups appeal for Khemani's release

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Traders and members of civic groups have appealed to the captors of Indian trader Mike Khemani to set him free, citing health and humanitarian reasons.

The group said Khemani is  involved in various humanitarian projects in the city and his freedom will ensure that he will be able to continue these projects.

Sam Fontanilla, past district governor of the Rotary International District 3870, said while Khemani is of pure Indian descent, he is a key benefactor of the Rotary’s yearly “Handog Pabuka,” which provides dinner banquets for Muslims during the Islamic Ramadhan fasting season.

“He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Cotabato City-South. He is a stern advocate of Muslim-Christian unity,” Fontanilla told The Star via email.

Fontanilla, a human-rights lawyer, said Khemani is also an active supporter of their “adopt a mosque” project and the Rotary’s medical and dental outreach missions to underdeveloped Moro villages.

Fontanilla said Rotarians are saddened by Khemani's abduction. The Indian trader was snatched by gunmen in his department store along the busy Bonifacio Street here Tuesday night.

Khemani owns the Sugni Superstore here, which has branches in Kabacan town in North Cotabato and in Kidapawan City.

Witnesses said four gunmen, who spoke to each other in the Maguindanaon dialect, gunned down one of Khemani’s bodyguard and wounded another before they forced him into a getaway car parked nearby and spirited him to a riverside district where a motorized boat was waiting.

Khemani was also close to local members of the Free Masons fraternity, whose members are mostly affiliated with civic and peace-advocacy organizations.

“He is not a Mason, but he is close to many masons and have been very supportive of the community service programs of the Masons,” Fontanilla said.

Fontanilla said Khemani had petitioned to join masonry.

The Kampilan Press Corps, which groups together  journalists in Central Mindanao covering the activities of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division, condemned Khemani’s abduction in an official statement.

Senior Supt. Rolen Balquin, director of the Cotabato City police, said they have found leads on the identities of the kidnappers behind Khemani’s abduction, but declined to reveal names pending further investigation. - John Unson