Family of abducted Coast Guard personnel appeals for govt help

Irish Villaruz was on her way to buy milk for her seven-month old son on Wednesday when neighbors informed her of a viral video on the Internet. 

 

The video showed her husband, SM2 Gringo Villaruz of the Philippine Coast Guard, pleading for 

government’s help. Beside him were SM1 Allan Pagaling and Barangay Chairman Robert Bulagao.

 

The three were blindfolded and kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs. 

 

Upon seeing the video, Irish said she felt both anger and despair.

 

Irish and her husband would have celebrated their first wedding anniversary on June 18 had her husband not been taken at gunpoint while doing his job.   

 

"Sana naman po pagtuonan ng pansin 'yan ng pamahalaan. Hindi po basta basta na case yan kasi po mga armadong tao ang nakakuha," she said in a phone interview from Dipolog City. 

 

The three hostages were taken by armed men from the island barangay of Aliguay in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte on May 4. 

 

Earlier reports said the kidnappers were looking for foreign tourists but finding none, took the barangay chairman and the two Coast Guard safety inspectors instead. 

 

Heidy Lizza Timbancaya, Villaruz's aunt, flew to Manila recently to personally seek help from national government officials.

 

Timbancaya turned emotional when asked about her nephew. 

 

"Mahal ko kasi ang bata na 'yan dahil sa akin nakatira 'yan. Masakit sa dibdib. Biyakin talaga ang heart mo everyday. Tortured sa pag-iisip, halos hindi makakain," Timbacaya said in tears. 

 

Commander Armand Balilo, PCG spokesman said the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of P100 million. This was eventually reduced to P50 million then to P3 million. However, Balilo said the government is maintaining a "no ransom" policy. 

 

"The PCG is doing its best to rescue the two PCG personnel. Admiral Rodolfo Isorena has, since day one, given instructions to PCG Northern Mindanao district commander Commodore Ferdinand Velasco to exhaust all possible efforts to recover them,” he said. 

 

Villaruz's family also said they have no means to meet the ransom demand. 

 

"Magkano lang naman ang sahod niyan (Villaruz)? Kaya ba namin magbigay? Hindi po. Government ang kailangang kumilos," Timbancaya said.  

 

Timbancaya also stated that they received information from PCG contacts that the three hostages have been transferred from Zamboanga del Norte to the province of Sulu. 

 

She added that the viral video may have been taken in the earlier days of their captivity because the three hostages have since lost a lot of weight. — JDS, GMA News