Manhunt beefed up for captors of Pelaez son

ILIGAN CITY — Police have intensified the manhunt for the kidnappers of a son of former Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez and a nurse who were separately snatched in Cagayan de Oro City last week.
Misamis Oriental Gov. Bong Calingin ordered the provincial police director, Senior Superintendent Leonardo Exclamado, and the town mayors to utilize their field units and local leaders, respectively, to possibly intercept the abductors in the province’s boundaries with Lanao del Norte and Agusan.

Pelaez’s son Enrico, a top executive of the Northern Mindanao Development Bank based in Cagayan de Oro, was snatched in Barangay Gusa in that city last Nov. 23.

Information officer Nestor Amplayo quoted Calingin as saying that there is a possibility that the young Pelaez was brought by his kidnappers to Lanao.

As of yesterday, there was no ransom demand from Pelaez’ abductors.

The other kidnap victim, Rachel Ann Valmoria, a nurse at the Cagayan de Oro City Medical Center, was snatched last Nov. 21.

Calingin’s office has received reports that Valmoria’s abductors have demanded a P100,000 ransom. — Lino de la Cruz