By Nora c. Sorino, Iligan Bureau Chief,
Sita N. Asequia, and Lito Rulona, Correspondents
Iligan City — In a press briefer, here, the National National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced that the two students who were abducted on June 4 along with four others have been released yesterday.
Lawyer Abdul Jamar Dimaporo of NBI said that the two students who remained at the hands of the kidnap-foransom group were turned over to them at around 5:00 am, Thursday.
Released were Cid Rick Jamias and Berzon Paeste. To note, the former is a 5th year BS Electronics while the latter is a 4th year AB History at the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). Jamias is from Tacurong City while Paeste is from Pagadian City.
Early morning of Thursday, Dimaporo said he received a call from Munai, Lanao Norte that they had to go there in connection with the release of the two students. Together with some men, he arrived in Munai before 6 am and 30 minutes later the students were turned over to them, he added.
He said the two were released from the hands of the kidnap group evening of Wednesday.
The release of the abducted students was made possible through the help of the mayor of Munai, Maquiling, the National Police, the Army, officials of MSU- IIT, and specially with Kumander Bravo “through the mechanisms of the Ceasefire Agreement with the MILF,” he said.
He said the NBI had the names of the group responsible for said act and which they will give in detail later as cases have been filed against it for kidnapping and arson.
The six were kidnapped “outside of Iligan” Dimaporo said as they coud not do it in the city because of several checkpoints. He enjoined youths then not to trust strangers and to minimize hanging out specially at night. The two he said were released in Munai near the boundary of Poona Piagapo. He did not say whether ransom was paid or not. The MSU-IIT said they paid no ransom for the release of the students.
The armed group initially released four MSU-IIT identified as Juhary Gubat, first year General Education student; Kevin Limpin, MSU-IIT alumnus; Hannah Yurong, a former IIT student; and Eloisa Lacson, a non-IIT student.
Police has already identified the group responsible for kidnapping who had also several pending cases filed in Iligan City court.
Earlier, MSU-IIT Security Chief Eduardito Maruhom asked assistance from Atty. Alex Cabornay, head agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Regional Office in Cagayan de Oro City and the 2nd Mechanized Brigade Intelligence Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the immediate rescue operation against the abductors.
Daniel said they would file appropriate charges against the abductors.
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