MARAWI CITY (MindaNews/25 June) – Nuraldin Yusoph, son of Elections Commissioner Elias Yusoph, is being held unrestrained by his kidnappers, some of whom are his relatives, somewhere in the hinterland town of Lumbayabao in Lanao del Sur, police said yesterday.
Supt. Paniares Adap, Lanao del Sur police director, said police informants told them they do not believe that the kidnappers will harm the son of Commissioner Yusoph.
“Wala nga daw armas ang mga kidnappers at si Nuraldin ay hindi tinali,” (The kidnappers are not even armed and Nuraldin is not being tied) Adap said.
Nuraldin, who also heads the local Comelec office in Lanao del Sur, was kidnapped by unidentified men in Barangay Sabala Amao in Marawi City last Sunday.
His kidnappers, police said are demanding the nullification of the election results in the towns of Malabang, Pitong Taraka and Masiu in Lanao del Sur.
Presidential Adviser Jesus Dureza flew to Marawi City today to negotiate the release of the younger Yusoph.
“Our concern is to deliver Nuraldin to his father unharmed,” Dureza said.
Dureza met with former Marawi City mayor Omar Solitario, Abbas Basman, and several Maranao leaders to discuss how to get the kidnap victim from his abductors.
He said enlisting the help of these leaders would be a big factor for the safe release of Nuraldin.
Dureza also went on air at a local radio station to appeal to the kidnappers and he gave his mobile phone number for them to reach him.
The secretary got mixed responses. He said he got a lot of text messages before the day ended including one asking for a P1000 phone load.
He was however, elated when somebody gave him a two-page letter purportedly from Nuraldin’s kidnappers.
“We are checking this letter as to its veracity. We have to find out if what they claimed is true,” Dureza said.
(Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)
