Prof’s kidnappers drop ransom demand
By Richel Umel, Julie Alipala
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:21:00 07/22/2008
ILIGAN CITY – Gunmen who are keeping captive Mindanao State University (MSU) professor Sherwin Nacua have dropped their ransom demand, the military commander in Lanao del Sur said Tuesday.
But Col. Rey Ardo, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade based in Marawi City, said the kidnappers would not release Nacua yet unless the family pays his “board and lodging fee.”
Ardo did not specify how much the kidnappers wanted in exchange for Nacua’s freedom. He said authorities are currently trying to secure the victim’s release.
Nacua and 25 other teachers of the state-run university in Marawi were on their way home to Iligan City about three weeks ago when abducted at gunpoint in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur.
The gunmen, whose identities are still unknown, commandeered the jeep that the victims were riding and took it to a hinterland village in Saguiaran.
When they reached the area, the armed men reportedly asked residents to help them keep the victims but the locals refused.
While negotiating with the locals, 25 of the victims managed to run but Nacua was left behind. In Zamboanga City, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad corrected his earlier report that five persons were abducted in Basilan on Sunday.
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