KIDNAPPING, Fear or Favor

By PJTremedal

Kapamanok, San Pablo, ZDS - Kidnapping in Basilan, Jolo, Zamboanga, or in any part of the country is purely creating fear and paralyze government’s service, this is the pronouncement of Congressman Antonio Cerilles in an interview during the visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo here last March 17, 2009.

Congressman Cerilles commented about this menace in our society now a day after series of kidnappings had hit the country since 2006 and before. Lately another three low salaried teachers from Bangkaw-bangkaw, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay had been kidnapped by suspected lawless elements to get ransom for their favor.

According to the Regional Police Command, Regional Director P/Chief Superintendent Angel Hipolito Sunglao said as operations continues against the suspects, from 20 million ransom, the kidnappers accordingly ask for 10 million.

" I cannot confirm or deny this allegation but our intelligence sources said it goes down to 10 million, P/CSupt Sunglao said

“Why Teachers? They cannot even feed their families with their salaries.” The congressman questioned. Kidnapping is purely to create fear and paralyzes the government’s service to its people, especially in Mindanao.

A leading risk consultancy group declared the country as kidnapping hotspot in 2006 and cited corruption and ineffective law enforcement contributed to the unending halt of kidnap-for-ransom activities in the country.

In its report, the Pacific Strategies and Assessments (PSA) said that the government had failed to address” these factors with any consistency or political will “and as a result kidnapping was likely to flourish in this Southeast Asian nation of 84 million people.

In a press statement, Senator Loren Legarda said that it is the failure of this government to maintain law and order. “The Arroyo Government has failed in maintaining law and order with the continued spate of kidnapping, Definitely no question ask about it, there’s a lack that is why these are happenings” she said.

Meanwhile, Major General Benjamin Dolorfino, Philippine Marine (PN) Commandant said, that they will keep their offensive against the ASG in Basilan with-out let up. “The only way to prevent those (KFR’s-ASG-other Lawless Elements) is to go after them and if possible neutralize the group to prevent them in to another kidnapping activity.” He said.

Lately, another 3 teachers from Bangkaw-bangkaw, Naga, Zamboanga had been kidnapped by the suspects, they are: Joselyn Asuelo Inion, 39 years old a resident of Barangay Crossing, Sta Clara, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay, Jocelyn Valdehueza Enriquez, 42 years old and a resident of Barangay Lapaz, Naga and Noemi Lachica Mandih, 39 years old a resident of Poblacion Naga. The victims were all regular teachers.

According to Senior Insp. Lorenzo, information officer of the Zamboanga Sibugay provincial PNP office, the police are certain that the abductors and their victims have not gone far away and are still within the area around Zamboanga Sibugay. He added, that the Task Force Bangkaw-bangkaw was organized to conduct follow-up operations.

The task force Bangkaw-bangkaw is composed of the elements of the police, army, navy, CIDG and local officials. Checkpoints are now set up by the army and police along the highways while naval blockades are being established along the seas. With reports from Ping Deliverio and the Mindanao Monitor

PHILIP JAMES MONGAYA TREMEDAL
CALL OR TEXT ME : 0929-589-6390
OR E-MAIL ME : pjtremedal@gmail.com
visit my website: www.pag-enews.tk