ZAMBOANGA CITY – Kidnappers freed unharmed their two remaining Korean captives on Saturday following negotiations in Salvador town in Lanao del Norte, authorities said yesterday.
The release of the two kidnap victims – Wu Seok-Bung and Kim Nam-Du – in Barangay Calimudan, Salvador town came two days after the third captive, Choi Inn-So, was freed also in the same area.
Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, said Wu and Kim were released at around 5:30 p.m. Saturday to the local negotiators.
The fate of two Filipino companions of the three Koreans was still uncertain. The military, however, suspects that they were cohorts of the kidnappers led by one Anwar Bilao.
A third Filipino guide, Junnie Ongie, was killed.
Prior to the release, Cabangbang said the negotiators met with government forces led by Brig. Gen. Roland Amarille, commander of Task Force Makalintad, at the Salvador municipal hall to plan a possible rescue operation if the negotiations would fail.
The negotiators, accompanied by military officials, went to Barangay Calimudan where government troops have established a command post. The negotiators were then left to work out the safe release of the two remaining captives.
“The negotiators returned to the barangay hall with the two freed Korean nationals almost an hour (after) the negotiations,” Cabangbang said.
The three Korean nationals were seized last Oct. 30 while visiting a mining site in Lanao del Norte.
Cabangbang said the two freed captives were reunited with their companion who underwent an ulcer operation in Iligan City.
Col. Daniel Lucero, commander of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, said no ransom was paid for the release of the two Koreans.
“Initially, there was a ransom demand but I’m sure no ransom was given,” Lucero told radio station dzBB.
Lucero said plain pressure from authorities and their family members prodded the kidnappers to free their captives. – With Lino de la Cruz, Alexis Romero - By Roel Pareño
