3 telecom workers abducted in Lanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Kidnappers holding captive three engineers, one of them female, in Lanao province have reportedly demanded P7-million ransom in exchange for the release of the victims, official revealed yesterday.

The victims, identified as Jennifer Bargarola, Scenio Polistico and Edwin Esguerra, were abducted Tuesday by gunmen in Tubaran town and brought to a still undisclosed placed in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur.

The victims were reportedly contracted by Globe Telecommunication Inc. to conduct inspection in the area for a cell site following a request from Tubaran town. They were seized by unidentified assailants while aboard their service vehicle.

"We have received reports that the kidnappers have demanded P7-million ransom in exchange for the safe release of the hostages," Brig. Francisco Gudani, chief of the 1st Marine Brigade and Task Force Ranao, said.

Gudani revealed that the initial reports they have gathered pointed to some losing political candidates as responsible for the abduction.

"Malaki siguro ang nagastos at natalo pa (They may have spent a lot and lost in the elections)," Gudani said. However, he declined to reveal any names as investigation is still ongoing.

According to Gudani, Globe is not cooperating with the investigation. "That’s one of the problems we are facing on how to solve the case the soonest possible time," he said.

However, efforts to locate the whereabouts of the kidnappers and their three victims were intensified.

But Gudani believed that the kidnappers are still holed out in the province of Lanao as calls made by the alleged kidnappers who tried to negotiate for ransom were traced within the area.

"The calls could be decoy to mislead us," Gudani said. "I think the kidnappers here have already perfected the art of decieving authorities," Gudani said.

He added that Marine forces are just waiting for the time to launch the rescue operation once the kidnappers’ location and the victims are pinpointed.

Maj. Bob Bacarro, deputy information chief of the Southern Command, said troops have also been alerted to support the rescue mission for the three victims.

"The troops are ready to conduct rescue if warranted and given the right information," Bacarro said. — Roel Pareños