Rifle, cash promise satisfy kidnappers

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte — A kidnapped employee of the regional state prosecutor’s office in Marawi City was freed yesterday after negotiators gave his captors an Armalite rifle and promised to pay them P150,000 as ransom.

Authorities kept the abduction of Nimrod Castillon, 43, from the local media pending negotiations for his release.

A police source said masked men snatched Castillon, along with his wife Elvira, 41, while he was on his way to work last Nov. 20 in Barangay Payawan, Balo-i town.

The kidnappers commandeered the couple’ car until they reached a forested area. There, they escaped with Castillon, but abandoned his wife after robbing her of P6,000 cash, cellphone and jewelry.

The negotiators, led by Marawi City Mayor Omar Solitario Ali and a prosecutor named Pangandaman, tried to pay Castillon’s captors P30,000 but this was rejected.

The kidnappers originally demanded a P1-million ransom but lowered the amount, in succeeding negotiations, to P500,000. They also asked for an Armalite rifle.

Negotiators were able to hand over a rifle, but no money. The kidnappers took their word that P150,000 would be paid as soon as the Castillons could raise the amount.