Ransom and Drug Trade Eyed as behind the Kidnapping of Six Students in Mindanao State University

 By Tito Natividad Fiel 

Press Conference in MSU Board Room, Chancellor Sukarno Tanggol centerspeaks.

ILIGAN CITY – Mindanao State University –Iligan Institute of Technology Chancellor Sukarno Tanggol eyed Wednesday afternoon in a press conference in their board room that money making industry and drug trade may behind the kidnapping of six students on Saturday late night.

At this point in time there has no demand from the kidnappers, but ransom could be one reason and the other one is the drug trade happened in the surroundings and gradually entered inside the campus, Dr. Tanggol said. 

“There is already drug trading in the surroundings of the MSU –IIT and it gradually enters the campus but cannot prosper inside because of the close security procedure in entering inside that hinders from flooding of  drugs in the campus”, Dr. Tanggol stressed. 

 MSU-IIT Security Chief Eduardito “Ditto” Maruhom revealed in a press conference that weeks ago, they arrested a young man entered the campus which taking meal in the canteen, unfortunately he left his bag unattended where got attention of the security and inspected where it recovered two rolls of marijuana and materials used for shabu session. 

Both Chancellor Tanggol and Security Chief Maruhom confirmed that there were six young kidnapped by unidentified perpetrators which most of them students from MSU-IIT, two students remained captive while the four were released on Monday.

The two captive students by the alleged kidnappers identified as Berzon Paeste, 4^th year of Bachelor of Arts major in History coming from Zamboanga del Sur and Cid rick Jamias 5^th year of Bachelor of Science in Electronic from Tacurong City. 

While the four released were identified as Juhary Gubat, 1st year General Education student; Hannah Yurong, Kevin Limpin and Eloisa Lacson, all dropout students but now hiding with the fear to their lives. 

The university officials remained clueless of whom has abducted and held the remaining two students, but Chief Security Marohom appealed to the kidnappers that in the name of Peace and as the observance of Ramadan is ongoing, the two remained captive be released unconditionally.

These are the remained captives by the kidnappers which graduating students from MSU-IIT

“The parents of the two students could not afford even to pay right away their dormitory how much more to pay ransom which it is huge amount”, Mr. Marohom strongly appealed. 

Despite of cluelessness about group responsible in doing the kidnapping, but Mr. Marohom appeal suggests that the kidnappers belonged to Muslim elements but not clear which group of them has done it.

Dr. Tanggol expressed disappointment in a press conference over the kidnapping incident, saying that it is the first time happened in the MSU-IIT where its students kidnapped, hoping the Presumptive Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will do more to discourage criminals. 

“We want the national government share to resolve this problem, law enforcement bodies like Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Armed Forces of the Philippines must take it serious”, he strongly appealed. 

He appreciates the efforts of the law enforcement agencies looking this problem but he appealed to do more and make more coordinative and extensive efforts to resolve it immediately. 

MSU Security Chief Marohom also blamed the weak implementation of security matters in the city where some establishments of gas station vending not only gas but also liquors, cigarettes and no enough light and also no CCTV that will preempt criminals. 

He hints to agree of having curfew hours to be implemented in the city to curve the criminalities.

 He said in a press release shared in the press conference that the two remained captives were hanging out with the four released on Saturday night at the Caltex Gas Station in Tibanga, this city.

The group left the Caltex Gas Station premises in a white vehicle with plate number KGJ661 which allegedly driven by a certain as described cousin of Gubat.

The vehicle went through towards the Municipality of Linamon Lanao del Norte, the adjacent town of Ilgian City, but it got off at the gas station before Linamon to make a call, then continue their travel after the call, but upon reaching Linamon, a group of armed men stopped them. 

The students were said to have been blindfolded and brought to an unknown, uphill and muddy area where they were separately interviewed about their parents’ jobs. 

But Monday dawn, he revealed that  Gubat, Limpin, Yurong, and Lacson were released but all  are said to be in hiding for fear of their lives.

Maruhom claimed that the whereabouts and how to resolve it safely is already at hand but did not make more elaboration for security reasons.