Kidnap victim freed in Jolo

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Kidnap victim Rufo Roda was recovered alive in Jolo on Wednesday night according to a police report.

Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9) director Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Licup, confirmed the release of Roda, who was brought to the Western Mindanao Command undergoing debriefing.

A police report said Roda was successfully recovered by combined intelligence operatives of the Military Intelligence Group (MIG) 26 and MIG 9 of Joint Task Force Sulu around 7:30 p.m. on October 17.

“Kidnapped victim (Roda) was delivered by unidentified person through a negotiation spearheaded by a certain Al, a resident of Jolo, Sulu,” Licup said.

“Allegedly, a ransom money amounting to P1.2 million was paid in exchange of the couple’s release but only Mr. Roda was released. Roda will be escorted by personnel of MIG 9 to Zamboanga City via a roll on, roll off vessel Thursday night for custodial debriefing and proper disposition,” the report said.

Roda and his wife were kidnapped on August 31 this year in Piakan, Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte. /muf