Money, Islam conversion free kidnapped nurse

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—It took an undetermined amount of money and a conversion to Islam for kidnappers to release a 21-year-old nurse snatched two months ago, authorities and the victim said.

Senior Supt. Edwin de Ocampo, acting city police chief, said Maria Chris Sogradiel Cuartocruz was handed over to her mother, Elena, in Alicia town in Zamboanga Sibugay around 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

He said police learned that the family gave an undetermined amount of money to the kidnappers.

“She is okay and in high spirits but what we gathered was the family gave goodwill money to the captors,” De Ocampo said.

Cuartocruz returned home on Tuesday and was immediately presented to the media.

The nurse was snatched inside her home in Manicahan village here on Dec. 14 by at least seven armed men.

The kidnappers shot dead her 72-year-old grandfather, Jesus, as they took Cuartocruz with them.

Chief Supt. Elpidio de Asis, Western Mindanao police director, said the suspects in Cuartocruz’s kidnapping were identified as belonging to the group of a certain Waning Abdusalam.

But he said they were not Abu Sayyaf members as authorities had suspected.

Cuartocruz said her captors spoke Yakan, Tausug and Maguindanao and that she was initially brought to the mountains of Basilan.

“The kidnappers treated me well,” said Cuartocruz. “Look at me, I am now fat. They even called me Princess.”

Cuartocruz said if there was one good thing that happened to her while in captivity was her decision to convert to Islam.

She admitted that she initially decided to do so to protect herself.

“I am a woman and they were all males. For my security, I embraced Islam,” Cuartocruz said.

But she said that later on, she became serious in her conversion.

Cuartocruz, who now calls herself Hannan, said she had not bothered to take off her hijab (head scarf) since.

“I am a devout Catholic but if she is happy with that, I have no choice but to accept it,” her mother said.

Authorities have been helpless against kidnappings in many parts of Mindanao, prompting the justice department to order an investigation.

Several lawmakers also demanded the resignation of top military and police officials in areas where kidnappings were being committed with impunity.