Thursday, June 7, 2007

Police nabs suspect behind abduction of German, three Filipinos in North Cotabato

By Ronron
June 6, 2007

Police nabbed last Tuesday a suspect behind the abduction of a German businessman and three Filipinos last May 31 in Pikit, North Cotabato province.

Pikit Police chief Sr. Insp. Elias Dandan said Eduard Cocal, 54, was apprehended at around 12 noon of June 5 at a restaurant in Midsayap town of same province by combined police forces from various units.

“He was the one who boarded the van of the victims from Kabacan (town of same province). He was the contact person of the victims for their transaction,” Dandan said of Cocal in a phone interview yesterday.

Dandan said Cocal is among those charged before the prosecutor’s office for kidnapping with serious illegal detention. Eight to nine more suspects are being searched now.

Cocal, a jobless locale, did not carry any firearm when nabbed, said Dandan.

Asked if the suspect is a member of any criminal group, Dandan said: “That’s the subject of our background investigation now because we have unconfirmed information that he had been involved in previous kidnapping cases in Central Mindanao although this is the only time he was charged.”

Dandan said Cocal is now detained at the North Cotabato Provincial Police headquarters in Kidapawan City and will be subjected today (Thursday) to inquest proceedings.

The victims, Thomas Wallrat, May Sharon Jackson, Consuelo San Juan, and Deigo Daniel, were on a business trip to purchase nickels when held briefly within the day last May 31st in Pikit./DMS

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