Maranao coed abducted in Iligan's busy downtown in broad daylight

The Maranao coed who managed to escape from her abductors reported her ordeal to the police. (FB photo).

ILIGAN CITY: A Maranao coed has escaped from a bunch of kidnappers after she fought back against her abductors who forced her to board in a black HUV along a busy city street here Friday early afternoon. 

In an interview, the lass (named withheld for security purposes) told this writer that she just finished her lunch at an eatery which is frequented by students at Zamora Street and was about to cross the street on her way to her school when suddenly she was accosted by an elderly Maranao.

The victim said the man was telling her that she is his relative while he was holding her in the shoulder when in matter of seconds a black colored HUV stopped in her front, its door opened and a man inside the van took her hand, pulled her towards the car. 

She said inside the van, she was threatened by its passengers — three men aged between 30 to 40 and a woman in her 30s who are all Maranaos — that she must cooperate or they will kill her. “Sabi nila, pag pumalag ako papatayn nila ako,” said the victim. 

She said at this point in time, she managed to take a needle pinned in her kombong and used to fight back. She said she was able to hit with the needle pin the man who pulled her in the van and the woman who helped him and also the elderly man. 

“Biglang may dumaan na wangwang at nagbalik agad sila sa upuan nila, natakot seguro. Dun ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataon buksan ang pinto ng van at tumalon,” she said. 

There and then, the van sped away. “Biglang naglaho,” she said. 

She said as she had to run, she forgot to get the plate number of the van.

She said a few days ago before this incident, this ealderly man approached her and asked her if she needed scholarship for he could help her. She said she ignored him and walked fast.

She also said she remembered the lady in the van who was the one dropped by a car and went straight to her to ask if she could accompany her to some place. She said also did not entertain her and walked away. 

The girl and her family immediately reported the incident to the police a few hours later. The police, it was learned, did a follow up operation. 

In the past few months, this new crime phenomena is rising. Maranao youth mostly young lads are reported as missing or being kidnapped.

A few victim was eventually found dead either in funeral parlors if not somewhere else, social media said. 

Motive of the kidnapping and who are behind it are yet to be established by authorities.

No ransom so far was reported asked by the culprits from the victims' relatives.

Social media has been blaming Maranao leaders for not taking any action in this regard. - RSP