Recruiter kidnapped, rescued in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—A Quezon City-based overseas manpower employment recruiter and several other women were rescued following a gunfight between police and kidnappers in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao province on Wednesday, authorities said on Thursday.

Insp. Datutulon Penguiaman, Datu Odin police chief, said 52-year-old Milagros Abu Hussein, a recruiter, was traveling with some recruits to this city from Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat province on a public utility vehicle when they were seized by armed men.

Penguiaman said the still undetermined number of armed men flagged down the vehicle that the victims were riding and took them at gunpoint around 10 a.m. Wednesday.

He said the armed men brought Abu Hussein and her recruits to Barangay Dados, a remote village of Datu Odin Sinsuat.

Brief gunfight

Penguiaman said witnesses had reported the kidnapping to authorities and the police, in coordination with the 6th Infantry Battalion, immediately launched a search and rescue operation.

He said policemen and soldiers caught up with the armed group and their captives and engaged the kidnappers in a brief gunfight and rescued the victims unharmed.

“As we were closing in, the kidnappers set free their captives and fled deep into the forest,” Penguiaman said.

He said no casualty had been reported from either side.

“The timely report from civilians in the village led the police to quickly rescue the businesswoman and her companions,” Penguiaman said.

Kidnappings common

Kidnappings are common in Maguindanao and nearby areas, including this city. The targets are normally moneyed individuals.

In most of the kidnapping cases, authorities had identified the Pentagon kidnap for ransom gang as responsible. The Pentagon is a group founded by a former Moro rebel.

The Pentagon gang operates by cell in Central Mindanao and nearby areas. It is believed headed by Alonto Tahir, who, while reported to be ailing, proved to be elusive.

In Wednesday’s snatching, Penguiaman said the police are still trying to determine the identities of the armed men and what group they belong to.

He said it was also not clear if these are the same armed men who abducted and freed 19-year-old Mark Anthony Baya of Midsayap, North Cotabato province, in August.

Negotiations

Authorities said there were negotiations involved in Baya’s case but it was not clear whether ransom had been paid.

The North Cotabato antikidnapping task force had identified at least three groups operating in the province and which are also believed to be behind Baya’s kidnapping.

Supt. Renante delos Santos, Midsayap police chief, said the groups are headed by men known only by their aliases “Super Power,” “Kinsay” and “Toks Kalbo.”

“They are allied with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF),” he was quoted as saying.