Kidnappers free trader, daughter in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY – A businessman and his 10-year-old daughter were freed after four days in captivity when relatives reportedly paid their kidnappers a ransom of P3 million, according to traders close to the family.

The father and daughter were released to their relatives in Barangay Brar in Talayan, Maguindanao on Sunday, according to Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema and Cotabato City police director Senior Superintendent Willie Dangane.

However, the two officials said they did not know if ransom was paid to the kidnappers.

Relatives brought the victims to Cotabato City from Brar by car, Dangane told The STAR.

The two were kept for four days in a marshy area in Kabuntalan, Maguindanao.

The father and daughter were on their way home from downtown Cotabato City when gunmen stopped and took them near the border with Maguindanao.

They were then forced into a pumpboat and taken to a marshy area in the heart of Kabuntalan, a known rebel stronghold.

No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

Kidnappers talking with top government official

An Abu Sayyaf band holding three Red Cross workers are talking with a top official in Manila after Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan rejected its demand to pull out troops surrounding its hideout, according to a source.

“It cannot be determined yet whether the negotiation will include ransom but the Abu Sayyaf group continued to demand the troops’ repositioning in preparation for a much bigger demand,” the source said.

In a radio statement, the Abu Sayyaf said Marines must pull back towards Jolo before it talks to any government representative.

An official source said the Marines have maintained their security cordon in Mt. Taran, Barangay Kuppong, Indanan where the Abu Sayyaf militants led by Albader Parad, Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu Pula are holed up with the three Red Cross workers.

Pulling out the Marines and police from the area will give the Abu Sayyaf band a chance to merge with other gangs and mass up its strength, Tan said.

Troops will not remove the dragnet around the Abu Sayyaf hideout to prevent the kidnappers from slipping out with their captives, according to Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, Joint Task Force Comet commander. – With Roel Pareño