A Maranaw businessman abducted by unidentified armed men in Lanao del Sur on June 11 was freed by his captors Wednesday afternoon inside the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, Colonel Daniel Lucero, commander of the Army’s 103rd Brigade, told Inquirer Mindanao.
Lucero said Camal Tocal, a resident of Lumba Bayabao, Lanao del Sur, reunited with his family soon after his release.
He said based on information reaching the military, Tocal’s relatives negotiated with the kidnappers and agreed to pay an unspecified amount in ransom.
Lucero said the recent spate of kidnappings in the Lanao provinces has made authorities suspect that a big kidnap-for-ransom group, such as the Kuratong Baleleng, was involved, but the authorities were still trying to validate this. (Richel Umel/Inquirer Mindanao)
Backgrounder (Source: LSPPO)
An alleged abduction transpired on June 11, 2011 at about 12:30pm at the vicinity of Barangay Gadongan, Marawi City where a red Mazda 6-7 bearing Plate No. POM-158 was flagged down by group of unidentified armed men.
The Mazda was owned by Camal Tocal, 37 years old, married, businessman, native of Barangay Bacolod, Lumbayabao, Lanao del Sur and a resident of Barangay West Marinaut, Marawi City.
Initial investigation of the PNP revealed that said vehicle was traversing the highway from Lumbayabao to Marawi City when flagged down at gunpoint by the suspects onboard a white pick-up with unknown Plate Number.
Onboard the red Mazda was Camal Tocal, his wife, Rocma (37 yo), his 2 children Jabber (12 yo) and Rohaima (11 yo), and a 35-yr old helper of the family.
The suspects grabbed Camal Tocal inside their getaway vehicle and brought with them all the personal belongings of the passengers onboard.
At about 12:40pm, the family of the victim reported the incident to PO1 Abduljabbar Galawan, Duty on Post at ICOM Terminal in Barangay Moncado Kadingilan, Marawi City who immediately responded and able to go after the white pick-up at Barangay Maul in Marantao town with the Marantao MPS serving as the blocking force thereat.
While eluding arrest along Narciso Ramos Highway at Barangay Maul, the getaway pick-up vehicle of the suspects bumped a parked L-300 vehicle with undetermined number of passengers onboard. A case was referred before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor docketed in NPS-RXIV-04-INV-11F-00116 for Reckless Imprudence resulting in Multiple Physical Injuries and Damaged to Property duly signed by Fiscal Ombra Bacaraman dated June 13, 2011.
A case was also referred before the Office of the City Prosecutor docketed in XIV-06-INQ-11F-00041 for Kidnapping with Robbery against the suspects Jamil Bubong Macadato @ Melmel and Jonivy Sarabia Diaz @ Joni duly signed by Hon. Lacsasa M. Macabangon, City Prosecutor dated June 14, 2011.
On June 20, 2011, Camal Tocal was safely released inside the Mindanao State University campus through the negotiation of a certain Mangombaya Mamasaranao.
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