In one of my early KFR, or Kidnap for Ransom entries I labelled KFR as the National Sport of the Philippines. I recommended that readers approach it like a game, something along the lines of, "Good Day, Not So Good Day," or some such silly contrived turn of phrase. In addition, there are a certain number of publicised (most KFRs are never even reported to authorities much less publicised) tend to fall through the cracks and fade into obscurity, usually because the victim has died in captivity. Therefore, this entry will focus on four victims of publicised cases who have melted into the ether. As some sharp tool once intoned, "Any publicity is good publicity." While in normal circumstances I would never recommend reporting and/or publicising a KFR in the case of victims held for 6 or more months such publicising can only help. Sadly, in most such cases the victim is dead and buried.
I) Hilarion "Larry" Tam de los Santos is a Tsinoy, or Filipino of Chinese descent entrepreneur from Basilan Island. Owner of Isabela City's popular Fonts Resturant and a farm slash family resort known as "Farmland Mountain Resort" in that municipality's Barangay Lanote. In mid-December of 2010 a group of young men arrived in a non-descript brown van and took a couple of rooms. On Saturday, December 9th the "guests" stormed Mr.de los Santos' home with M16s and M14a and ordered the frightened man outside and into the idling van. Quickly rejoined by the other gunmen the van then sped uphill into Barangay Upper Lanote before crossing into the Abu Sayyaf-dominated municipality of Sumisip.
By February 13th, 2011 ransom negotiations with de los Santos' eldest son Michael were so non-productive that none other than Kumander Puruji Indama, overall commander of the ASG, or Abu Sayyaf Group faction holding de los Santos personally telephoned Basilan's Vice Governor al Rashaeed Sakkahalul and brought him into the negotiations. Indama had Vice Governor Sakkahalul relay a message to Michael de los Santos, namely that on the next day, February 14th a 72 hour window would commence. In addition the heretofore ridiculous demand of P20 Million ($475,000) was re-configured. To a more reasonable, but still overvalued P5 Million ($105,000). The victim's son Michael however asserted that the family couldn't even raise P1 Million ($21,500), a claim noone believed for a second given the fact that his father's farm and resturant were owned outright without a mortgage. Therefore he could mortgage one or both to raise sufficient capital. When February 17th came and went without even an attempt on the part of the son, Michael de los Santos, his ASG captors murdered him.
II) Many, if not most of the foreigners moving to the Philippines are bringing with them incredibly heavy emotional baggage. Be it a series of failed businesses or more often a series of failed marriages, they wash up on Philippine shores like bright eyed kids in a candy store. All of a sudden they are admired. All of a sudden they are respected. All of a sudden they are irresistible to most women. However true that is some end up serving as posterboys for that oft quoted adage, "You can run but you cannot hide." Take the case of Toshio Ito of Hiroshima, Japan. Arriving in Manila just after the new milleium the then 54 year old Ito soon moved south, to the Philippine frontier, Mindanao after a quick look see in Dumaguete on Negros Island.
Starting a sand and gravel business in Misamis Occidental Province he soon went belly up, not knowing enough about the local mores with regard to such businesses (as in bribe, bribe and more bribe). Quickly eating through the very meagre financial resources and so his money problems soon adversely effected his lovelife as well. A Japanese man approaching 60 and without a centavo just doesn't cut it among Filipina teens. Obsessed with his paramour Mr.Ito broke into the home she was sharing with her new sugar daddy in the municipality of Plaridel in that same Misamis Occidental Province.
Unfortunately for Mr.Ito the couple's live in maid spotted him as he began breaking in and had enough presence of mind to very quickly call the next door neighbour who held Mr. Ito at gunpoint until the Plaridel MPO, or Municipal Police Office responded and arrested the despondent. Charged with Tresspassing in a Dwelling in Plaridel Municipal Court he was remanded to the city jail. His few remaining friends took pity on Mr.Ito and banding together they bailed him out, hoping the sordid incident would serve as a wake up call.
Free once more Mr.Ito considered his options carefully. Broke, his passport about to expire, 4.5 years after his Tourist Visa had expired, no money to pay the Immigration tarrif even if he somehow managed to find a way to cadge the steep airfare home to Japan, what to do? Mr. Ito decided to go for broke, financially, emotionally, and personaly. He borrowed a week's worth of living expenses and made his way by jeepney to Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Norte Province. Checking into the cheapest pension he could find he happened across a woman nearly his age, a native of Pangaturan Island in Sulu Province.
Inviting Mr. Ito to enjoy lunch with her by the end of the meal Ito knew the woman's life story and had even talked to her husband by phone. The husband, a retired municipal councilor in the town of Panguturan, he instantly warmed to his wife's new acquaintance. Mr. Ito had told them that he was a doctor in Japan but had suffered a great personal loss and was so beset with melancholy that he had inadvertently run out of funds. His new acquaintance insisted that he accompany her home to Pangaturan, to stay at their home in the island's Barangay Bangkilay, at least until he was on his feet and fit to travel. That was in 2004.
Telling the couple and everyone he met thereafter that his name was Dr.Katayama Mamaito he began to quickly re-build his life in a manner that reflected the way he saw himself, not as others saw him. Trying to ingratiate himself with his new hosts he actively sought religious instruction and then converted to Islam. Thereafter he was known as "Doctor Ameer," his Muslin name meaning "Prince" in Arabic (usually transliterated as "Emir" in English).
When he sensed that his welcome might be wearing thin he convinced his hosts to help stake him in a small clinic that doubled as a non-prescription pharmacy. Free space was provided by the municipal government after his sponsors spoke to the Mayor on his behalf, promising free medical care to all island children. The Mayor, like most island males was a member of the MNLF-Misuari and soon sponsored Doctor Ameer for membership in the organisation as well. Issued a MNLF photo ID in the name Ameer Katayama Mamaito he was given the designation "Medic." He began building up credentials in his new identity even going so far to obtain a Filipino birth certificate in his new name that listed his birthplace as Marawi City in Lanao del Sur Province.
As life moved ever forward though somethings weren't all peaches and cream. Mr.Ito had told all his new friends that he had lived in Marawi City, not Plaridel. When the Mayor checked with local officials in Marawi they could find no record of the man. Over the years other holes began appearing and some islanders, especially those much younger, began talking behind Ito's back, accusing him of being a military asset or Deep Penetration Agent. At 130AM on July 16th, 2010 it all came to a head when ten young men carrying long arms kicked in Ito's door and marched him off into the night never to be seen again. A strange post script developed when, in mid-February of 2011 the Japanese Embassy in Makati received a typed letter from someone claiming to be Mr.Ito. The contents of that letter have never been revealed although it was made available to the PNP, or Philippine National Police. It has been 13 months since Ito marched off into the night. Despite alleged sightings in Basilan, where he was said to be held by ASG, nothing concrete has ever surfaced.
III) Randalle Patilona Talania, the 9 year old son of Barangay Captain Rosemarie Patilona Talania of Barangay Namnama in the municipality of Titay in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay had just gotten out of school and was leaving the campus of Titay Central Elementary School in that town's Barangay Poblacion. Just as he reached the sidewalk the side door on a green minivan slid open and two men jumped out. Each grabbing young Randelle by an arm they took him with them as they climbed back aboard and rapidly drove off towards Barangay Bangko. Late that night the captor's vehicle was discovered in the municipality of Kalawit's Barangay Marcelo in Zamboanga del Norte Province.
Registered to Jose Enriquez of Zamboanga City it had been reported stolen the day of the abduction. His mother Rosemarie had long been targetted for KFR by the BIAF, or Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (military wing of the MILF) 113 Base Command. Intially held for P20 Million ($450,000) it was lowered to P10 Million by the end of May. The problem however is that most observers feared that young Randelle Patilona Talania had died in late April. The boy was severely asthmatic and since his captors had failed to provide the boy with adequate medication. Then, in early May the Proofs of Life became undated photos and when his family demanded more concrete proof that Randelle was alive and well his captors ceased all contact.
IV) Eulogio "Aidan" Lim Yu, a Tsinoy resident of Cotabato City in North Cotabato Province is another case that simply sputtered into nothingness. Owner of Yuking Guan Trading, a large hardware store, Mr.Yu was enjoying a Saturday night out with his wife Kathy Yu on January 7th, 2011. Fond of gambling the pair had spent the evening at the Etosan Garden Hotel's popular casino but decided to make an early evening out of it since both had to be at the shoppe bright and early the next morning. As Mr. and Mrs.Yu left the hotel via its front entrance they waited for the parking attendant to fetch their SUV. Standing just meters from the entrance gates of the ARMM, or Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao Capital Complex, was a group of three men, appearing to be in the midst of a heated discussion. Suddenly two of those men stepped away from their companion and rapidly approached Mr. and Mrs.Yu.
Just as a red Toyota Corolla holding two men in the front screeched to a stop in front of them. The two men who had been approaching the couple suddenly lunged for them but only managed to grab Mr.Yu, Mrs.Yu managed to escape and run back inside the hotel screaming hysterically.
Throwing Mr.Yu roughly into the backseat of the Corolla all three gunmen piled in beside him before slamming the car's doors and speeding off. By now Kathy Yu had recovered her faculties and ran screaming hysterically into the hotel foyer. Hearing a loud commotion a gaggle of hotel security officers rushed to the entrance and after Mrs.Yu quickly explained herself, continued running out into the carpark in an attempt to stop the kidnappers. Just as the security guards exited the hotel they readied themselves in a combat firing position and squeezed off a handful of rounds from their 45 caliber pistols at the retreating Corolla. As the guards were doing this though, a motorcycle with two men riding tandem came roaring up to the hotel entrance with the rear passenger firing rounds in a stacatto burst. This sent the guards and a couple of unlucky hotel and casino patrons scrambling. Cotabato City, a town where even the top hotel is a wild west arcade.
When the Corolla was recovered later in the city's Barangay Rosary Heights #10 its rear seat was soaked in blood and its rear windshield had been shattered showing that more than one of the shots fired by hotel security connected with its intended or unintended target.
The next day, Sunday, January 8th Mrs.Yu received a very brief but to the point phone call informing her that her husband had been kidnapped (as if it wasn't clear to her already) and that she would soon receive a call with instructions regarding the ransom. The following day, Monday, January 9th Mrs.Yu again received a phone call instructing her to gather P50 Million ($1 Million), a typically ridiculous sum which is to be expected in the initial sum. Mrs. Yu than asked for the requisite Proof of Life, always given with the initial ransom demand. Instead of complying however the caller abruptly terminated the call. A sickening feeling began knawing at Kathy Yu's insides, hurting her so much more as she looked at their three young children. Days later a third ransom demand was made. Once again Mrs.Yu requested Proof of Life. Again the call was terminated. That was the last contact made until March when another phone call offered a much reduced ransom of P5 Million ($110,000), only to once again slam down the phone when asked for Proof of Life.
To everyoneone around her Mr.Yu was dead but Kathy Yu couldn't bear to even consider that possibility. Even when the forensic examination of the blood soaked rear seat in the Corolla positively identified it as coming from her husband Mrs.Yu closes her eyes and ears and continued believing that her husband is alive and well and will one day return to her.
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