Suspect in kidnapping of Chinoys in Central Mindanao arrested

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – Police has arrested a suspected member of a kidnap gang victimizing Filipino-Chinese traders in Central Mindanao.

Senior Superintendent Marcelo Pintac, police chief for Maguindanao, said the suspect, Oyo Bewang, was arrested at the town proper of North Upi while waiting with cohorts for their businessman target, on Saturday.

A .45 caliber pistol and a hand grenade were recovered from Bewang. Two of his companions managed to escape.

“We have received earlier intelligence report about a plan by syndicate group to abduct traders so we alerted our men,” Pintac said, adding that police were still establishing if indeed Bewang belonged to a kidnap group.

“For now, Bewang will be charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives,” he said.

In May 2011, gunmen seized Filipino-Chinese businesswoman Angeline Mantigue in North Upi town. She was released weeks after her abduction.

On October 8, 2010, gunmen seized Conchita Atienza Tan, 73, wife of businessman identified as Lucio Tan, owner of the LCT Hardware in Cotabato City (not the business mogul Lucio Tan who owns Philippine Airlines, Fortune Tobacco and other businesses in different field). A family driver and security personnel died when they shot it out with the suspects. Tan was released after her family paid an undetermined amount of ransom money to her captors.