Kidnap-wary residents leave Zamboanga town
Seven-year-old Piolo, not his real name, seems to be at home in his new school in Ipil, the capital town of Zamboanga Sibugay.
The boy, who hails from Payao town of Zamboanga Sibugay, goes to an upscale private school in Ipil accompanied by his nanny.
“Piolo’s parents decided to leave their place (in Payao) temporarily due to security reasons,” the nanny, who agreed to be interviewed on condition of anonymity, told Sunstar Philippines.
A fourth-class agricultural town situated obliquely across Olutanga Island, poverty is widespread in the area and banditry -- be it extortion, sea piracy or kidnap-for-ransom -- is commonplace. There is no telling who might be the next victim, the nanny said.
The coastal town is about 20 kilometers from the national highway, connected by an unpaved road that turns muddy and becomes impassable during the rainy season. It is more accessible from the sea at present.
The town is among the poorest in the province, with more than half of its population having no regular employment nor a steady source of income, based on local planning records.
Kidnap-for-ransom activities in the town have been linked to the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group.
What is alarming is that the local kidnap-for-ransom group is no longer targeting the rich and influential, officials said. Ordinary government employees and small businessmen have become kidnapping targets.
Just recently, eight-year-old Rexon Romoc was released after more than seven months in captivity. He was kidnapped along with his parents in August last year from their residence in Payao town.
The mother was released a few weeks after the abduction allegedly on the agreement that she would raise the money for the kidnappers.
Ricson’s father was released last November after the family paid an undisclosed amount as ransom.
The boy’s release came after the family allegedly paid P3 million to the kidnappers.