ZAMBOANGA CITY, 24 September 2006 — Kidnappers freed the daughter of a university president after almost two months in captivity in the southern Philippine island of Basilan.
Eldigario Gonzales, president of the state-owned Western Mindanao University in Zamboanga City, said he paid an unspecified amount of money for the freedom of his 19-year-old daughter Grace. “We paid some amount that they call board and lodging fee and we are happy that my daughter is finally reunited with us,” he told reporters.
He said private negotiators helped in the safe release of her daughter, who was seized on Aug. 2 near their house in Guiwan village in Zamboanga City.
No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, which the military had previously blamed on the Abu Sayyaf extremist group.
Presidential Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Grace was handed over late Friday to Akhmad Bayam, one of his staff who is a former Muslim rebel commander.
The group had last month beheaded two of their kidnap victims on Jolo Island, about 950 km south of Manila, after their family failed to pay a one-million ransom demand.
The severed head of Jeffrey Selvin, 27, was found by residents in front of the police headquarters in downtown Jolo on Aug. 12. Her mother’s body was later recovered.
The victims were kidnapped on July 27 outside their house at Gandasuli Road in Jolo. The 58-year old woman, Jacky, owns a bakery shop in downtown Jolo.
In June, suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen freed 41-year old pharmacy owner Bren Vergara after their family allegedly paid more than one million pesos in ransom. The man was snatched on April 12 together with his ailing 70-year old mother Caridad Vergara, who was later freed.
