Snatched teacher freed as Jolo folk plan march vs kidnappings

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—A 23-year-old teacher has been freed by kidnappers after almost three months in captivity, authorities said.

Cathy Mae Casipong, teacher of the Sibugtok Elementary School here, was reunited with her parents in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay on Tuesday.

Casipong was kidnapped on Dec. 18 last year while she was on her way to the city’s mainland to attend the World Teachers’ Day celebration.

Pedro Melchor Natividad, school city division superintendent, said Casipong was released to her parents past 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Col. Ignacio Obligacion, head of the 102nd Army Brigade based in Ipil, quoted Casipong’s parents as saying the teacher lost weight. Obligacion refused to reveal details about Casipong’s release.

“What is important is that she is now with her parents and we are looking forward to hear her side maybe after 15 days of rest,” he said.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said no ransom was paid.

In Sulu, residents have decided to take matters into their own hands in the fight against kidnapping, announcing a rally on Friday to press authorities to act.

The planned rally announcement came just as another kidnapping took place in Jolo, Sulu on Sunday.

The victim is pawnshop worker Jerlyn Ramirez Abubakar, 20, mother of two. She was snatched by armed men on Serrantes Street in downtown Jolo.

Brig. Gen. Martin Pinto, head of the anticrime Joint Task Force Sulu, said Abubakar’s kidnappers are demanding a P100,000 ransom.

On Monday, armed men failed in their attempt to kidnap teachers in Indanan town.

Dr. Raden Ikbala, of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), who is also a convener of the Bangsa Sug Against Kidnapping and Other Crimes (Bassakao), said a group of teachers bound for the Bilaan Elementary School in Indanan town to report for work had been abducted in Tagbak village, also in Indanan.

Ikbala said the kidnappers blocked the path of the vehicle that was carrying the teachers and shot the driver. The teachers were able to run to safety as the kidnappers fired shots.

The gunfire caught the attention of Marines who responded. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao