MANILA, Philippines – One of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) students who surfaced on Monday after being kidnapped over the weekend denied reports that they were rescued by law enforcers.
Juhari Gubat, 18, told the school’s Office of Publication and Information (OPI) on Thursday, June 9, that he, together with former MSU-IIT student Hannah Yurong and non-MSU-IIT students Kevin Limpin and Eloisa Lacson, were released by their captors on Monday at dawn.
Their two other companions – Berzon Paeste, a 4th year AB History student from Zamboanga del Sur; and Cid Rick Jamias, a 5th year BS Electronics and Communication student from Tacurong City – remain in captivity.
Gubat claimed that the kidnappers even gave them P200 for fare money. He also denied that they were forcibly taken into a vehicle on Saturday night, as reported in social media.
Recounting the experience
On Saturday, the 4 students were with Jamias and Paeste in a white Toyota Revo with plate number KGJ 661, driven by a certain “Moamar." during the incident. The vehicle’s plate number is believed to be fake or stolen as authorities reportedly traced this to a multicab in Cagayan de Oro City.
Gubat clarified that he only met “Moamar” on Saturday at around 4 pm. He said that “Moamar” introduced himself as a cousin and asked for his phone number. The student said “Moamar” had curly hair and stood around 5 feet and 3 inches tall, and is in his 30s.
Later that evening, “Moamar” called Gubat on his mobile phone and asked if he, together with Paeste and Jamias, wanted to hang out. At the same time, Paeste got a call from Lacson asking if they wanted to meet up at the Caltex Gas Station in Tibanga town in Lanao del Norte.
Gubat, Paeste, and Jamias then allowed “Moamar” to pick them up at their dormitory.
While they were at Caltex Tibanga, Jamias decided to leave for the bus station so that he could go to the town of Maranding, Lanao del Norte, but Moamar offered to drive for him. The rest followed and rode along in the vehicle.
While the group was on their way to Maranding, 6 armed men obstructed their vehicle along a dark stretch of road in Barangay Buru-un near Timoga Spring Pools.
“The men had ball caps on and were wearing their backpacks in front. They pointed .45 caliber pistols at us, and ordered us to open the doors,” Gubat narrated. The men then boarded the vehicle later and blindfolded them, he added.
When their blindfolds were removed, Gubat said that he and his companions saw the name of Panga Elementary School, which is located in Munai, Lanao del Norte.
“They were very scary-looking, and they were insisting that my companions and I were into drugs,” the student said. Some of the armed men looked 18 to 19 years older than him, according to Gubat.
After two hours of being blindfolded, the group were ordered to get off the vehicle to walk along a muddy, uphill place, and were separated.
Gubat and 3 others were brought to a house that was allegedly owned by the driver "Moamar." Each one was interviewed by the abductors and asked about their parents’ occupations.
Jamias and Paeste were brought to a different place, Gubat said.
Campus security
The OPI held a press conference at the MSU-IIT Boardroom on Wednesday, June 8, and invited members of the local press through the local Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
MSU-IIT security chief Eduardito Maruhom briefed the media about recent developments and the combined efforts of the Armed Forces' 2nd Mechanized Brigade forces, the Philippine National Police, and the National Bureau of Investigation in rescuing the MSU-IIT students Jamias and Paeste who still held by the kidnappers.
Chancellor Dr Sukarno Tanggol reiterated his concern over the safety of the two students, “We should do more and, with concerted effort, put an end to criminality. Our problems are gargantuan.”
He also told the media that the institute’s security measures on campus have been solidified.
Maruhom is closely monitoring the situation and said he is hopeful that the remaining captives will be released soon by the kidnappers.
Tanggol restated that campus security is stringent and, despite the fact that the kidnapping happened off campus, he still wants them, as MSU-IIT students, to be returned safely. – Rappler.com
Rafael Bandayrel, a student of the University of Santo Tomas, is a Rappler intern.