Philippine Coast Guard commander Commodore Joselito Dela Cruz during Wednesday’s AFP/PNP press conference.
DAVAO CITY – The village chief of Aliguay Island in Dapitan City is confirmed dead by an official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday.
PCG Commander Commodore Joselito Dela Cruz said the body of Rodolfo E. Buligao, was found in Maimbong, Sulu 9 pm of Tuesday. Buligao was abducted along with members of the PCG who were identified as Seaman First Class 1 (SN1) Rod Pagaling and SN2 Gringo Villaruz, who is from Davao Oriental, last May.
The Coast Guards were assigned at the PCG Station in Dapitan when they were abducted.
“As of last night, 9 pm, the cadaver of barangay captain was found in Maimbong, Sulu after (the family) failed to negotiate to pay the ransom by the captors (who are) allegedly members of mga Abu Sayyaf,” Dela Cruz said.
It can be recalled that a video of the three who were asking for help from the government went viral in social media.
Dela Cruz said the kidnappers initially demanded for P300 million during the first week of the abduction. He said this was reduced to P3 million for each personnel.
“Yong unang first week of abduction, P300 milyon yong hinihingi. But it went down, I think if I am not mistaken, mga P3 milyon each for the coast guard personnel (During the first week of the abduction, the captors asked for P300 million. But it went down, I think if I am not mistaken, to P3 million each for the coast guard personnel),” said Dela Cruz.
However, Dela Cruz said, the government has a standing policy to never negotiate with the kidnappers. (davaotoday.com)
