Yusoph says no ransom paid for release of son

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Elias Yusoph said yesterday that no ransom was paid for the release of his son Nuraldin.

“This is the happiest moment, the release of my son. We have been so patient over 29 days. I am grateful to those who offered prayers for the safe release of my son – my friends, Muslims and Christians. God has accepted our prayers. They have released my son without any hassle, without any ransom. Because God has control of everything,” Yusoph said in an interview.

The Comelec official believes that his outburst last week over government’s inaction to rescue his son had prompted the kidnappers to free Nuraldin.

“The statement that I gave last week, I think compelled them to release my son. That may be one of the reasons,” he added.

Yusoph claimed that while the military knew about his son’s whereabouts, not much had been done to get him back. He said the government should continue investigating the kidnapping even if his son had already been released.

“Whoever the perpetrators of this barbarous act are should suffer the curse of God. They deserve the punishment of God and they deserve not to live in this world. They are a menace to society,” he said.

Yusoph also belied the accusation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that he did not coordinate with them.

“I have to clarify that. I am not remiss of my responsibility as a father. I have been so cooperative with the military. I have been in constant contact with Gen. Dolorfino, with the crisis committee of Lanao del Sur, with the National Bureau of Investigation, with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in those days. I have been in constant contact with them,” he claimed, referring to Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino.

“While I have said that the military should cleanse their own ranks, I did not mean to insult the military but I just want to say that do not shift the blame to others, the deficiency of your department,” he added.

He appealed to the kidnappers to reform, adding their heinous acts are un-Islamic and “not the teaching of the prophet Muhammad.”

Yusoph, together with his wife Bai Zaalica, met Nuraldin at the Manila Domestic Airport shortly after 1 p.m. yesterday.

The young Yusoph was escorted from Cagayan de Oro by Mindanao Development Authority chairman Jesus Dureza and PNP officials.

AFP, PNP continue pursuit operations

Despite the release, however, police and military personnel continue their operations to arrest the kidnappers.

“As we speak, continuous police and military pursuit operations are underway against the suspects. I am confident we shall account for all of them in due time,” said PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa.

Verzosa said he shared the pride of the entire PNP and all those responsible in securing the release of the younger Yusoph.

“I am glad that Nuraldin Yusoph has been reunited with his family after suffering that 30-day ordeal in the hands of his abductors,” he said. “But the case doesn’t end there. We shall pursue all leads to identify, arrest and prosecute those behind this crime.”

“This does not end with the release. Military and police action has to be undertaken. We all know that in that area lawlessness is prevalent, that is why the PNP needs reinforcement from the Armed Forces,” AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said.

He said he believes that the main reason for the release is the pressure of the three battalions in the area.

Nuraldin and his father were supposed to meet with Verzosa at the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame yesterday afternoon but the Yusoph family had to beg off since the victim was very tired.

‘Money changed hands’

The release did not stop religious leaders in Lanao del Sur from asking authorities to investigate talks and text messages that ransom was paid for the release of the 22-year-old Yusoph, a big fraction of it reportedly raised by certain political leaders sympathetic to the victim’s influential clan.

“The police and the military should investigate this. This is something very serious,” said a 60 year-old Egyptian-trained Maranaw ustadz (preacher).

A mayor in the first district of Lanao del Sur, who asked not to be identified, said they were also surprised how Yusoph was released in Cagayan de Oro City, which is more than a hundred kilometers away from the province where he was held captive.

They said the captors would have to pass at least 10 mosques before reaching Cagayan de Oro City, and these were all monitored.

Yusoph was on his way from the Bato Ali Mosque in Marawi City when armed men forced him into a car and spirited him away.

His captors asked his father to work on the annulment of results of the special elections in four politically troubled towns in Lanao del Sur in exchange for his release.

Members of the Lanao del Sur provincial peace and order council chaired by Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. have been trying to brush off insinuations that “money changed hands” shortly before Yusoph was reportedly set free by his captors in Balulang District in Cagayan de Oro City at 5:10 p.m. Monday.

Adiong, older brother of Ansarudin Adiong, acting governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), told reporters that no ransom was paid to the kidnappers.

But a source in Lanao del Sur said it has been a tradition that negotiators and government officials sometimes shell out their own money and pay for the victim’s “board and lodging” to avoid embarrassment.

Authorities said that a lawless group led by a certain Dimaporo Maniri Dimasacal alias “Delta Force” was behind the kidnapping.

Dimasacal was slain in a clash with Army troops last Wednesday in Lanao del Sur. A soldier was killed and four others were wounded during the encounter.

Yusoph was set free on the eve of the ARMM’s two-day regional peace summit in Marawi City, where the Adiong siblings are to preside over a cross-section forum aimed at generating support for their effort of coming out with a common blueprint for peace and sustainable development in the autonomous region.

Peace activists in Lanao del Sur said the police should also investigate how the kidnappers of Yusoph managed to move him to Cagayan de Oro City from Lanao del Sur despite the presence of checkpoints established to restrain their movements while the victim was in their custody. - Cecille Suerte Felipe, John Unson, Rudy Santos, Alexis Romero, AP