NBI, PNP to probe Yusoph son's kidnapping

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police will be conducting a joint investigation on the kidnapping of the son of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Elias Yusoph.

“We are in the investigation and prosecution side. There will be a joint conduct of investigation between the NBI and the PNP. So there will be one line of investigation and eventually prosecution,” NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula told reporters yesterday during an interview at the NBI headquarters in Taft Avenue, Manila. 

Gatdula said their main concern is to know who the perpetrators are and these perpetrators “would be put to the bar of justice.”

Comelec Commissioner Yusoph, his son and kidnap victim Nuraldin Yusoph, and family members met with Gatdula yesterday afternoon to thank the NBI for helping in the investigation.

Their statements were taken by the NBI Special Task Force during the start of the NBI’s investigation.

“You know we are in a crusade for putting an end to this kind of activities. This is un-Islamic and our people are now looking for a peaceful resolution,” said Yusoph.

 “We have not had peace for several decades,” he said. In his comment regarding the “no ransom policy” of the government Yusoph said, “We cannot compromise the rights of the government.”

Yusoph said for the first seven days his son Nuraldin was only fed once a day, during the evening, with rice and salt.

The Comelec official said the original demand of the kidnappers was for the annulment of resolution declaring the proclamation of the candidates who ran during the last elections in their area.

The Comelec commissioner described the kidnapping as an “act of terrorism.”

“They claimed they were cheated. Why get back at me? I am not the one who cheated them, they should face who cheated them. So its because they want to hold hostage the Comelec, which is part of terrorism already,” said Yusoph.

On June 22, armed men snatched Nuraldin Yusoph, 22, as he emerged from the VicBato Alih mosque in Barangay Sabala Amanao, in Marawi City.

He was released without ransom on July 19, said government authorities.

During his captivity, he was transferred at least nine times to different locations, the parents of the victim said.