North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol has confirmed that Arthur Alcular, and his companion, identified only as Mr. Lim, were snatched by the kidnappers after learning that three-year-old Ralph Ashley Alcular had been rescued by MILF guerrillas.
"This is a very sad development. The kidnapped child is back with his family, but his grandfather and a friend who tried to negotiate for his release kidnapped themselves," Piñol said.
Piñol, now a staunch advocate of peaceful resolution of undue MILF-military confrontations in areas covered by the ceasefire, appealed to the front’s chairman, Al-Haj Murad, to help locate and rescue the elder Alcular and his companion.
The younger Alcular, whose mother, Divina, is an employee of a branch of the Rural Bank in Kidapawan City, was snatched last Aug. 23 by his own nanny, Hazel Tuala, and two unidentified men from a day-care school near their house.
Police investigators in Kidapawan City said they are certain that Tuala connived with the kidnappers in carrying out the child’s abduction. — John Unson