ISABELA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 01, 2009) – Kidnappers freed a nine-year old boy on Wednesday after two months in captivity in the southern Filipino province of Basilan, officials said.
Officials said Chester Gruta was released to negotiators sent by Lamitan City Mayor Roderick Furigay in the town of Mohamad Adjul shortly before 4 p.m.
“There was no ransom paid for the freedom of the boy. This was the result of long negotiations with the kidnappers,” Furigay’s aide, Nick Catsro, told reporters.
He said the boy was reunited with his family and will be brought to Zamboanga City for a medical examination. “Mayor Furigay is happy with the release of the boy,” he said.
Castro did not name the negotiators, but said Furigay tapped them to seek the freed of Gruta, who was kidnapped while buying a bottle of vinegar at a store in Lamitan City.
Police linked the Abu Sayyaf group to the kidnapping of the boy.
The group is also holding three government teachers Quizon G. Freires, 28; Janette C. Delos Reyes, 29; and Rafael L. Mayonado, 24, kidnapped in January in Zamboanga City and a lending firm collector Leah Patris, seized near Basilan’s Maluso town in February and a Sri Lankan national, Umar Jaleel, a member of the international peace advocate group called Nonviolent Peaceforce, who was kidnapped in February 13 in Lamitan City.
The kidnappers demanded millions of pesos in ransom for the safe release of the hostages. (Mindanao Examiner)
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