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Cotabato City Government Urges Islamic Community to Condemn Kidnappers

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Cotabato City government has called on the Islamic community to issue a landmark "fatwah" condemning kidnappers and urging the public to help authorities stop their activities. The appeal comes after the snatching of Filipino Chinese trader Conchita Tan, wife of Cotabato City Chinese chamber of commerce former president Lucio Tan, by a group of kidnappers led by Datu Pened and another datu named Tunggal. The city's chair of the inter-agency city peace and order council, Guiani, has emphasized the need for the Islamic community to take a stance against these "un-Islamic" activities, which have given Mindanao's Muslim communities a bad image.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Cotabato City government has urged the Islamic community to issue a fatwah condemning kidnappers and urging the public to help authorities stop their activities.
  • The kidnapping of Conchita Tan is the second incident in two months, with the first one involving trader Nelson Tay, who was released after his family paid ransom.
  • The kidnapping syndicate behind the Tan kidnapping is allegedly linked to the late Abugado Gado, also known as Commander Mubarak.
  • Guiani has asked President Aquino to deploy a Marine contingent to help prevent kidnapping attacks in Cotabato City.
  • The city's 37 barangays are currently under joint police and military control, which has been called for by Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Collin Bagaforo.
  • The Philippine Marine Corps is ready to send in a contingent to Cotabato City once it receives an order from the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
  • Not a single Islamic religious group has issued a fatwah condemning kidnappers, despite the urgent call from the city government.

Statistics:

  • There have been over 30 suspected kidnapping incidents in the past two years in Cotabato City and its surrounding towns.
  • The number of Chinese traders kidnapped in Central Mindanao from 1989 to 1992 was over 50, allegedly by the Mubarak kidnapping syndicate.
  • A 73-year-old woman, Conchita Tan, was snatched by kidnappers and is still being held captive.
  • The Philippine Marine Corps has jurisdiction over all Marine units in Mindanao and is ready to send in a contingent to Cotabato City.

Sources:

PNA (Philippine News Agency), COTABATO CITY, Oct. 12 (PNA) -

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