MARAWI CITY (MindaNews/25 September) – A driver abducted September 14 at the GMA terminal here was freed Friday afternoon without ransom, as five Maranaw victims kidnapped Wednesday in Maguindanao were also freed.
The freed victim, Haris Daud, was reportedly released through the intercession of a Council of Elders.
Daud, who was abducted while driving passengers to Marawi City on September 14, said he was brought inside a forested area, was given food but was not harmed. He, however, said, they threatened to kill him if their demands were not met.
Brig. Gen Rey Ardo commanding general of 103rd brigade Philippine Army said, the release of Daud was through the joint effort of the Philippine National Police and the military under the Provincial Crisis Management Committee chaired by Gov. mamintal Adiong, Jr.
“The suspects should be prosecuted to avoid the repeat of incident,” Ardo said, adding that in previous kidnapping incidents, none of the suspects was arrested or prosecuted.
Police Senior Superintendent Cosanie Derogongan , acting provincial police director said, Daud was released by his abductors in Basak area without payment of ransom.
Senior Chief Superintendent Beinvenido Latag, police director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said Daud, his family, along with police and military troops arrived in Kapatagan town which part of Lanao del Sur at around 1:30 dawn Saturday where they received Daud.
They then proceeded to the ARMM PNP Regional Command in Parang, Maguindanao at around 2:30 a.m. where the five Maranaw kidnap victims in Maguindanao were brought after they were released by their captors in Sitio Sarmiento, Matanog, Maguindanao. The five were freed after negotiations. with the local Crisis Management Committee of Matanog town.
Earlier reports from the ARMM PNP said armed men flagged down in Bayanga Norte, Matanog, Maguindanao last Wednesday an Isuzu Crosswind and a Toyota Revo coming from Cotabato City and bound for Marawi City. The men reportedly abducted five Maranaos in retaliation for the kidnapping of Daud.
The Maranao victims were identified as Marangit Abdulwahab Pandita, Musa Ebrahim Torongan, Kamar Sultan, Macasipot Zainal Kusain and Abdul Gaos Montia.
Daud’s kidnappers had allegedly demanded the return of a car that was confiscated by the Land Transportation Office and later and a ransom of P300,000.
“Wala namang ransom na binayad , ang gusto lang nga mga abductors ay ang kalayaan ni Haris Daud sa mga kamay sa mga abductors sa Lanao del Sur” (There was no ransom paid to the abductors. What they wanted was Daud’s freedom from his abductors in Lanao del Sur), said Latag.
Latag said both parties signed a peace agreement and further agreed to resolve the crisis to avoid feud and bloodshed between the Maranaws and Iranuns.
Latag said all kidnap victims have returned home and have reunited with their respective families. (MindaNews)
