Kudarat folk express outrage over kidnaps

COTABATO CITY — Thousands of beleaguered residents of Tacurong City and surrounding towns in Sultan Kudarat took to the streets yesterday to air their gripes over the spate of kidnappings and the alleged "disregard" by certain political leaders of the problem, which is now causing serious economic setbacks.

Merchants in Tacurong closed shop for half a day to dramatize their support for the indignation rally, joined in by both Muslims and Christians.

The rally, according to organizers, among them religious leaders, key members of the business community and city officials, was also aimed at attracting the attention of President Arroyo for her to immediately intervene.

The indignation rally was held just a week after the botched abduction of Chinese-Filipino ricemill owner Roberto Ang, which left six people dead, two of them policemen, and five others wounded, including Ang himself.

Since 2001, kidnapping gangs identified with the notorious Pentagon syndicate have snatched more than a dozen prominent businessmen in Tacurong and neighboring towns.

Local politicians, including incumbent Muslim officials, complained that some of their top leaders have been uncooperative in addressing the nagging problem.

"We cannot expose ourselves to great dangers by addressing the problem without the imprimatur and full support of the more influential and powerful members of our sector," said a local executive, who asked not to be identified.

Fr. Jose Collin Bagaforo, parish priest of Tacurong, said their main concern now is to encourage multisectoral involvement in addressing kidnapping threats in their communities.

Chief Inspector Raul Supiter, acting Tacurong police chief, said they have been receiving persistent feedback from Muslim religious leaders that rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and followers of Pentagon leaders Mayangkang Saguile and Tahir Alonto, were responsible for last week’s failed abduction of Ang.