Abductors demand P10M for town councilor and biz assoc's release

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Unidentified gunmen who abducted a town councilor and a female business associate demanded a P10-million ransom in exchange for the release of the victims, the victim’s wife and daughter said on Wednesday.

The kidnapper issued the ransom demand after the daughter of captive Ronnie Sandagon managed to establish the contact Monday. 

Sandagon, 50, a last term councilor of Naga town, Zamboanga Sibugay province, and his business associate Nancy Lucero-Gunato, 38, contact person of Ocean World aqua-marine products, were abducted by five gunmen from their buying station past midnight Sunday just beside the private wharf in Brgy. Baliwasan. 

Chennie, daughter of Sandagon, said she managed to call her father’s cellphone and talked with the abductors. 

“The kidnapper said in Filipino if I’m really the daughter of Ronnie you prepare P10 million in three days,” said Chennie, who was accompanied by her mother Helen Anducal Sandagon. 

She said it was the second time they managed to call the same number of her father since Sunday and the gunmen were talking in Tagalog but with heavy accent.

Helen, the wife of Sandagon, said they were not sure if the demand also covers for the ransom of her husband’s business partner Gunato.

Helen also belied reports that they were separated and that the two victims were live-in partners since the woman is her husband’s second cousin.

She said prior to the incident, her husband, being in his last term as councilor, agreed she would replace him as she ran for councilor.

Sandagon’s wife said she was also confused on the motive of the kidnapping since they cannot raise the huge ransom demanded.

“I don’t know why they abducted my husband. We are not rich and our cable television connection was even cut off because we can’t barely pay the bills and we have to shoulder our four children in their school,” Helen said. 

“Perhaps they thought that since my husband is in his last term as councilor he could have a big take home bonus,” she added in appealing for Sandagon’s release. 

The wife and daughter of Sandagon appealed the kidnappers not to hurt the victim who had a kidney operation and is under daily maintenance medicine.