By Richel Umel, Julie Alipala
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 16:35:00 07/22/2008

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines -- The kidnappers of a Mindanao State University (MSU) biology teacher have dropped their ransom demand but still want payment for the victim’s “board and lodging,” the military commander in Lanao del Sur said Tuesday.

Colonel Rey Ardo, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade based in Marawi City, said the kidnappers will not release Sherwin Nacua unless the family pay a fee for his stay with them.

Ardo did not specify how much the kidnappers wanted in exchange for Nacua's freedom but said authorities continue working to secure the victim's release.

Nacua, a faculty member of the MSU’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and 25 other teachers of the state-run university in Marawi were on their way home to Iligan City when abducted at gunpoint in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur on June 26.
The gunmen, whose identities remain unknown, commandeered the jeepney that the victims were riding and took it to a hinterland village in Saguiaran.

When they reached the area, the armed men reportedly asked residents to help them keep the victims but the locals refused.

While negotiating with the locals, 25 of the victims managed to run but Nacua was left behind.

In Zamboanga City, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad corrected his earlier report that five persons were abducted in Basilan on Sunday.

Jumoad said there were only three victims and the mistake was due to "our shock and confusion with the spate of kidnappings here."

Jumoad identified the victims as jeepney driver Ronni Ando, Wilma Sumergido, and her son Michael, 16.

Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar, Basilan police chief, said there has been no word on the victims yet and the kidnappers have not made any demands.

source: inquirer.net

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Vice mayor who won poll case shot dead

By Richel Umel
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 20:55:00 07/05/2008

ILIGAN CITY -- UNIDENTIFIED ARMED MEN shot dead the vice mayor of Pantar, Lanao del Norte, police authorities said yesterday.

Already, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) started an investigation into the killing of Hadji Abdul Rashid Onos.

Onos was standing outside the bakery owned by one of his children in Barangay Poblacion when he was shot around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Senior Supt. Linog Bagul, Lanao del Norte police chief.

Bagul said Onos died from a lone gunshot wound to the head.

The assassins fled on motorcycles, he said.

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Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:23:00 07/08/2008

MARAWI CITY – Faculty members of the Mindanao State University (MSU) here have appealed to the kidnappers to release their captive, a biology teacher who has been in captivity for more than a week now.

Sherwin Nacua, a faculty member of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the MSU, was kidnapped on June 26.

Nacua was with 22 (not 19 as earlier reported) other MSU faculty members in a commuter Sarao jeep bound for Iligan City when their vehicle was stopped by four armed men wearing military uniforms in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur.

The kidnappers commandeered the vehicle towards Poona Piagapo town. But while traversing a dirt, narrow road, the jeepney stopped before a logging truck that had been stalled. The kidnappers then took from the passengers their mobile phones and ID cards.

Nacua was held at gunpoint and he reportedly stayed on so the rest could escape when the kidnappers became nervous because Maranao residents refused to heed the kidnappers’ request to push the jeep away from the muddied road and instead urged the passengers to run to the highway.

In the confusion, the faculty members took their chance and walked towards the highway to freedom.

Nacua, the only breadwinner in the family, is married to Elena, a housewife. They have three children.

No demands in exchange for Nacua’s release have been made, but talks circulating within the MSU campus here suggest that the motive behind Nacua’s kidnapping was personal because he had flunked a student. Inquirer Mindanao

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This event were headed by Gov. Mamintal A. Adiong Jr and the provincial officials both local and National. The Department of Education officials and Teachers were there to mark for this memorable occasion. The vendors who sold all sort of foods run out of supply, that is why, participants have to walk for another kilometer to satisfy their hunger. Though, it is tough to have this long day, but we see this event as a symbol of unity among the people of the province. The rains that pour were not reasons to
proceed until the portal of the provincial Capitol. Congratulations to our participants and all concerned officials in this province and MABUHAY!

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