COTABATO CITY, Philippines – (UPDATE) Government security forces claimed to have foiled a kidnapping attempt with the arrest of five armed men early Saturday.
Superintendent Danny Reyes, Cotabato police director, said the suspects were on board a Blue Nissan patrol and were suspiciously roaming around the city about 12:30 a.m. when they were accosted by security forces.
He identified the suspects as Morshid Mabang, Samindatu Laguia Muda, Nonoy Masdal, Bayang Masdal and Mahatma Ampatuan, all residents of Barangay (village) Macasampen in Guindolongan, Maguindanao.
Reyes said the gunmen yielded six .45-caliber pistols and two hand grenades when inspected by soldiers and policemen manning a mobile checkpoint at the corner of Sinsuat Avenue and Pansacala Street.
He said security had been tightened here in the aftermath of a new wave of kidnappings and fresh intelligence reports that kidnappers planned to strike again.
Reyes said security forces believed the arrested gunmen were on a surveillance mission for fresh victims. But he could not say what group they belonged to.
“We are confirming their identities with those in the order of battle against kidnap gang members,” Reyes said.
The latest arrests brought to seven the number of people arrested here in recent days on suspicion of involvement in kidnappings.
On Saturday last week, two men were arrested in connection with the April 1 kidnapping of trader Jinky Yap.
Yap, owner of a mini-grocery here, was released last Sunday after her family reportedly paid an undetermined amount of ransom money.
Another trader remains missing to this day.
Eulogio Adin Yu, owner of a hardware store here, was kidnapped January 8. Nothing has been heard of him lately, Reyes said.