Retired Army Scout Ranger released without ransom, police says
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines/20 February 2010 by Anne Montano—After almost two weeks in captivity, kidnapped retired Army Scout Ranger was released by his captors after sensing military and police presence in the boundaries of RT Lim and Tungawan towns in Zamboanga Sibugay Province where the victim was being kept.
According to Zamboanga City Police Director OIC Supt Edwin De Ocampo, the victim Benjamin Almonte was abandoned by his captors and was recovered by the government authorities about past 10 in the evening Friday, 19 February 2010 and was immediately brought to Camp Eduardo Batalla this city for stress debriefing and medical examination.
Supt. De Ocampo pointed out that there was no ransom paid in exchange for the release of Almonte, presently the kidnap victim is now confined in one of the private hospital in the city.
However, the family has expressed their “thanks to the Lord Almighty and to the government authorities for the safe release” of the retired soldier.
As this developed, hot pursuit operations have been intensified by the police and military in Zamboanga Sibugay Province.
However, Supt Deocampo said they still have to determine whose group is responsible in the abduction of Benjamin Almonte.
Almonte was seized by five armed men while fishing at the shoreline of Barangay Manicahan east coast of the City last February 6, 2010.
Meanwhile, Government forces in the island province of Basilan continuously scouring the mountainous areas of Sumisip and Maluso where to the two Chinese nationals were being held by their captors led by Abu Sayyaf leaders Puruji Indama and Abogao Bayali.
Last Friday, patrolling elements of the 32nd Infantry Battalion while conducting search and rescue operation were hit by a landmine that resulted to the killing two Army troopers and wounding another.
The Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) identified the slain soldiers were as follows: PFC Ramton Martel and PFC Hamid Aki while the wounded soldier was identified as PFC Adjing. (Anne Montano)
