Kidnappers demand P20M for trader

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Kidnappers of a Chinese-Filipino trader in Upi town in Maguindanao are asking for P20 million in ransom for her release, police said.

The victim, Angelina Soken Chew Mantigue, 54, is now being held by “rogue” members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Maguindanao’s marshland, according to Director Felisismo Khu, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Western Mindanao.

Citing field intelligence reports, Khu said the kidnappers, led by a certain Commander Talyo, relayed the ransom demand in a phone call to Mantigue’s family.

Eid Kabalu, chief of the MILF’s civil military affairs, denied Khu’s claim and accused the police of making the rebels “whipping boys.”

“We admit we have forces in the Liguasan marshland and we have field Commander Talyo, but definitely he was not involved,” Kabalu said.

Mantigue was minding her store when four men who posed as customers barged into the cashier’s cubicle and snatched her.  She was forced into a waiting car which sped toward Barangay Mirab.

Pursuing policemen engaged the kidnappers in a brief shoot-out, resulting in the wounding of one lawman.

Police later recovered the car and motorcycle used by the kidnappers.

Mantigue’s younger brother, lawyer Roland Chew, appealed to them to free her “because she had been sick.” He said his sister had just been discharged from the hospital where she was confined for a still unknown illness.

Another Chinese-Filipino trader has remained captive more than four months after he was taken in Cotabato City.

Eulogio Adin Yu, owner of Yu Kian Guian Hardware, was kidnapped on Jan. 8  His wife Kathy is still hoping that he is alive. Edwin O. Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao