Dexter Ian Dumaran, a native of Barangay City Heights in GenSan, as General Santos City in Sarangani Province is locally known, is one of those rare breed of people who always knew what they wanted to do for as long as anyone could remember. Entering Notre Dame de Dadiangas University in his hometown he majored in Business Management so that he could build upon the success of his father, Igmedio Dumaran, a self made man who with hard work was able to purchase a petrol station. The business, Meridian Shell on the corner of Barangay City Height's Mansanita Street and Pedro Acharon Boulevard afforded Dexter the abily to choose his own direction.
After university Dexter continued working for his father and eventually was able to buy his own petrol station in 2007. The Mabuhay Linmax Shell on the corner of Barangay City Height's Mabuhay Road and Yumang Street. Although work took up the majority of the young entrepreneur's day he still made time for more down to earth activities, like dating. In 2008 he began dating a local Tsinoy, or Filipina of Chinese descent, Dina Tan. Their relationship took an unexpected turn when Dina became pregnant, After the initial shock Dexter quickly regained his composure, proposed to Dina and just after daughter, Sophia "Sophie" Tan Dumaran was born, the couple was wed.
After settling into their domestic routine Dexter began planning for his next business venture, a resturant. Having purchased a quarter hectare lot when buying his petrol station on Mabuhay Road, he decided to build his eatery on the unused portion of his lot. As well as he had planned though, Dexter still felt more than a bit of trepidation over using up virtually all his cash reserves. Dina then suggested that they bring in a partner, her recently retired uncle, Gilbert Tan. With Mr.Tan's counsel Dexter decided to save a substantial amount of money by housing the eatery inside of a heavy duty canvas tent of the kind employed by travelling circuses. Then, with further advice from Mr.Tan, Dexter built the menu around an American-style steakhouse, in fact, the new eatery would soon be christened, "The Redtent Steakhouse."
Filipino beef leaves a lot to be desired. The breeds raised tend to be Brahma hybrids, suitable for the climate but poor quality as far as their beef is concerned. Then there is the technique, or lack thereof. Filipino ranchers run their herds as free range. In the West quality beef cattle are fed a balanced diet very high on grain. Then there is a lack of seasoning, as in aging. Tough beef needs to be aged properly to break it down and soften the cut. Ergo Dexter began importimg his meat from Australia. The result was a resturant that grew in popularity very quickly. By 2010 Dexter Ian Dumaran was widely regarded as a successful businessman. While the accolades were certainly appreciated they also placed Dexter in a delicate bind in that it made Dexter quite vulnerable, and much more importantly, endangered both his wife Dina and their precious daughter Sophie.
On Sunday, August 21st, 2011 Dexter took his wife and daughter for Evening Mass at their parish church, Saint Michaels in GenSan's Barangay City Heights. Arriving just after 6PM it wasn't long before little Sophie was squirming and complaining that she needed to use the CR, or Comfort Room as bathrooms are known locally. Embarrassed by hostile stares from fellow parishioners Dina whispered to her husband that would take Sophie to the CR and be back quickly. Nodding his head Dexter barely looked up at her, unaware of what was about to take place.
When Mass ended without their having returned an aggravated Dexter quickly walked to the CR in search of his wife and daughter. Failing to find them he next went outside and began searching in earnest. It was there that Dexter found a group of parishioners who had seen Sophie run out the front door unescorted. Seconds later out rushed Dina to grab her and that was the last anyone would see the pair.
Now distraught Dexter phoned his father for advice. Within minutes Igmedio was kicking up dust in the dirt carpark. Quickly he joined his son and together with the parish priest they covered the parish grounds centimeter by centimeter without discovering any additional clues or witnesses. At this point Igmedio concluded that the two had been kidnapped. With little to do but wait Igmedio took Dexter home to the family compound to wait for news.
In virtually all KFRs, or Kidnaps for Ransom the initial Ransom demand comes on the second or third day of captivity, giving the victims enough time to travel to their final destination and the shot caller, or oganiser of the kidnapping to gauge a proper opening gambit. This is accomplished by interrogating the victim. For the victim's loved ones though those initial days without contact can be absolutely maddening, so it was for Dexter Ian Dumaran. The young man repeatedly insisted on notifying the authorities. Igmedio strongle warned him not to, knowing that in virtually all KFR cases on the island the assailants are either tied directly into the local power structure or are indeed, members of the power structure themselves. The police inspector who interviews you about your child's kidnapping could be one of the men who actually took part in the abduction. At other times he could be feeding the organisation behind the kidnapping facts about your emotional state and/or financial resources so as to maximise the abductors' advantage during ransom negotiations. Still, a young man whose wife and 2 year old daughter have just been kidnapped isn't going to be in the most rational frame of mind. When midnite came and went without the first contact Dexter defied hid father and reported the kidnapping to the GenSan CPO, or City Police Office.
Naturally Igmedio discovered what Dexter had done and the two almost came to blows. When three CPO vehicles full of police personnel pulled into the Dumaran residential compound and informed Igmedio that a detachment from the AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippine's TF GenSan (Task Force GenSan) was en route Igmedio went ballistic. With the police refusing to leave Igmedio phoned Mayor Darlene Antonino Custodio and after apologising for waking her up had her pull rank. By daylight the media was circling like the buzzards they are only to have the Mayor mount the podium at a press conference and announce that the case was now under a news blackout. So, while not being able to keep the case absolutely under wraps Igmedio was able to quickly contain what could have been a disaster. Then, after creating all that un-necessary drama Sexter finally received that initial call that afternoon, Monday, August 22nd. The opening gambit? P8 Million ($170,000), a pretty penny to be sure.
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