GMA announces release of kidnapped MSU mentor

President Arroyo announced yesterday the "retrieval" of Mindanao State University (MSU) professor Red Manulat who was safely released from his hostage-takers in Lanao del Sur by a team of negotiators of local government officials led by Marawi City Mayor Omar Alih.

Arroyo made the announcement in her extemporaneous address at the second batch of barangay tanods who graduated from the anti-crime and anti-terrorism training held yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

"I am happy to report from Mindanao that Professor Red Manulat, the MSU professor in Marawi who was abducted last month by terrorists, has just been retrieved from the hands of his captors, by Mayor Omar Alih of Marawi," the President said.

The President said she was told that Alih’s negotiating team was also assisted by the latter’s colleagues "who are members of the MNLF-ICC, a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front where Mayor Alih belongs," along with the former Mayor Pusaw and other local government officials of Lanao Sur.

The kidnapped Mindanao State University (MSU) professor was released at dawn yesterday after 62 days in captivity, by his abductors unharmed and without ransom payment, in the hinterlands of Piagapo, Lanao del Sur following negotiations by the Marawi City mayor and community leaders of the said town.

Ali said the victim, Rhede Nelson Manulat of the MSU College of Business Administration was "looking healthy" and there were no signs of having been tormented by his abductors. However, "the victim needed to change clothes and freshen up" he added.

Manulat was kidnapped on Feb. 26, by armed men inside the college building who demanded at least P 2 million ransom in exchange for his release but MSU president Dr. Camar Umpa was firm in the university’s "no ransom" policy.

Backed by the police and military, the Provincial Crisis Management Committee tried several times to negotiate for the victims’s release but was snagged since the kidnappers insisted on the payment of ransom. The police also deferred its rescue operation because of the presence of hundreds of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Piagapo which might trigger a firefight.

According to Ali, one week ago, local executives, Mayor Franklin Quijano of this city and Mayor Vicente Emano of Cagayan de Oro City sought his assistance to intervene and negotiate with the kidnappers.

Ali dispatched his men in at least three teams who coordinated with his friends and local community leaders in Piagapo to negotiate with the kidnappers with a strong message that police and military operation will be the last option.

But since Thursday, even as the kidnappers already agreed to release the victim, they (kidnappers) were still trying to make a last ditch effort to collect ransom but finally agreed last night to release the victim somewhere in Piagapo.

"I have to be firm in not giving any ransom payment or " board and lodging" payment because this will only embolden criminals to kidnap more people for ransom," Ali said.

" However, we spent for the people who went several times to Piagapo to negotiate with the kidnappers" he further said.

Ali brought Manulat, a resident of Iligan City, here yesterday morning and turned him over to mayor Quijano.

Mayors Ali, Quijano and MSU president Camar Umpa have scheduled a future meeting among themselves, with the police and the military to map out plans, contingency measures on how to deal with future kidnappings in Marawi City and its neighboring provinces and cities.

Ali said that the kidnappers were petty criminals who were just out to extort money from MSU. "There are no kidnapping syndicates or rebels involved in this incident" he added.

Manulat was presented yesterday morning to Major General Roy Kyamko, commander of the Army’s Southern Command, who visited the 4th Infantry Division yesterday. The Southcom chief’s visit to the 4th ID was his first upon assuming command of the Zamboanga City-based command some 11 days ago. — Marichu Villanueva, Jaime Laude, Lino de la Cruz, Bong Fabe, Roel Pareño