By PNA
The Joint anti-kidnapping task force in Central Mindanao has advised the family of kidnap victim not to give in to the kidnappers' demand of P20 million ransom in exchange for her liberty.
"We maintain the no ransom policy of the government," Director Felissimu Khu, chief of Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Western Mindanao, said.
"We should stop paying ransom because it will become a cycle and more kidnapping will happen," Khu said.
Khu said intelligence information gathered from the field showed Angelina Soken Chew Mantigue is now in the hands of rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Maguindanao’s marshland.
Khu identified the leader of the rogue rebels as Commander Talyo.
Eid Kabalu, chief of the MILF’s civil military affairs, denied Khu’s claim.
"We have no hand in the kidnapping...we are helping as provided for in the interim ceasefire agreement with the government," Kabalu said.
Mantigue was manning her store when four men posed as customers and barged inside the cashier’s cubicle and snatched her.
The 54-year-old trader was forced into a waiting vehicle which sped toward Barangay Mirab.
Pursuing policemen figured in a brief gun battle with the suspects that left one police wounded.
POlice and military personnel also recovered the getaway car and a motorcycle used by the suspects.
The victim's younger brother, Lawyer Roland Chew, has appealed to her captors to free him “because she has been sick.â€
Chew said the family is so worried because his sister was yet to recover from illness that brought her to the hospital.
"She was just discharged from the hospital," he said.
Khu said police covert operations are continuing with the support from the military’s 6th Infantry Battalion.
Another Filipino-Chinese trader 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 January 8 and authorities believed he was killed in captivity.
But Yu's wife Cathy, is still hoping he is alive and be back in her arms soon.
“I appeal to the kidnappers to show proof of life of Adin,†she said in a radio interview. (PNA)
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