PNP: No ransom paid for MSU professors

Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. denied yesterday that ransom was paid for the freedom of four kidnapped teachers of the Mindanao State University (MSU).

Ebdane debunked a statement of Akira Alonto, Lanao del Sur provincial security chief, that local officials paid P300,000 as "board and lodging" to the kidnappers.

"Definitely there was no ransom," he said. "I do not know where they got the money. I personally know what happened from the time they were abducted after the report until they were released, and I know who were responsible for their release."

Ebdane said the government used the "tried and tested formula" in working for the release from captivity of Salvacion Miken, 53; Luzvilla Serate-Castillon, 53; Emma Manzano Kara-an, 43, and Editha Bontilao, 50.

Ebdane said the kidnappers were former MSU security guards who have no links with the Pentagon kidnap gang or other criminal groups.

"They were former employees of the MSU," he said. "They don’t belong to the Pentagon or any other groups. There was a ransom demand but it didn’t come to a point where there was payment of ransom."

Ebdane said police and military intelligence agents are debriefing the four kidnap victims, while government prosecutors are readying charges against the kidnappers.

"With all the other evidence, we’ll file against them and we’re conducting operations to account their men," he said.

Ebdane said he has met with MSU president Kamar Umpa to discuss ways to improve the university’s system of recruiting, training and supervising members of its security force.

"The MSU has its own charter just like the (University of the Philippines)," he said. "It is supposed to have its own police force, and there were mistakes in the recruitment because apparently they have not gone to the level of the standards of UP insofar as management of personnel is concerned."

Ebdane said he has offered the PNP’s services in helping the MSU recruit and train new security personnel to make them more effective in guarding the university.

"It is reminiscent of the old police days," he said. "There is an existing police force. The (MSU) president requested our assistance, we have to put some parameters in the form of recommendation that will have to be met before any member of the police force will be accepted."