Kidnappings linked to 2016 polls

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The city’s highest ranking police officer is linking the spike in kidnappings in parts of Mindanao, particularly Western Mindanao, to an underworld campaign by politicians to raise funds for next year’s elections.

Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro, the city police director, said his experience while working in the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) convinced him that the recent rash in kidnapping cases in the Zamboanga peninsula and the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi was perpetrated by politicians who are also involved in criminal activities.

Kidnapping, Casimiro said, was also rampant during his PAOCTF days whenever elections draw near.

“With the forthcoming election and if we go back to previous elections, it’s (kidnapping) one source of money for political purposes,” Casimiro told the Inquirer.

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In the early days of May alone, 10 cases of kidnappings had already been recorded in Western Mindanao and Northern Mindanao.

These include the May 3 kidnapping of mining executive Priscillano Garcia and his driver, Almatrapy Gua, in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; the May 4 abduction of Rodolfo Boligao, Coast Guard members SN2 Gringo Villaluz and SN1 Rod Pagaling in Dapitan City; and the May 6 kidnapping of Guan Lim Maujon in Siasi, Sulu. Maujon had been rescued while the other victims remained in the hands of their captors.

Casimiro said kidnappings are most common in areas “where there is a presence of bandits and guerillas.”

“Some individuals in areas, where there are armed groups, must be planning to run for political position and they need the money,” he said.

But Casimiro would not name any politician suspected to have links with kidnappers or armed groups such as the Abu Sayyaf.

Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, head of the Army’s Western Mindanao Command, told the Inquirer that some kidnappings in the past were related to elections but said he doubted if the 2016 elections and recent kidnappings were connected.

“In previous pre-election incidents, that may be true,” he said.Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao

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