Kidnappers contact Zamboanga teacher’s family

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Gunmen holding captive a public school teacher here have reportedly contacted the victim’s family and made their demands, a local official said yesterday.

Mayor Celso Lobregat said the kidnappers have called the family of Flordeliza Ongchua, 48, a resident of Labuan village in this city.

“The suspects have already contacted the victim’s family who requested to the crisis management committee to allow them to deal privately with the kidnappers,” Lobregat said.

The mayor, however, refused to divulge the demands made by the suspects in exchange for the victim’s release.

Ongchua was snatched by 13 gunmen who disguised as soldiers last Nov. 13 in Barangay Labuan.

Police have not located the whereabouts of the victim since her kidnapping although they are monitoring the nearby provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and Basilan province where most kidnapped victims were being held for a certain period before their release.

Senior Superintendent James Mejia, city police director and Task Force Flor commander, admitted they have no idea whose group was responsible for the kidnapping of Ongchua.