Police authorities in Roxas are investigating a missing person case involving a 49-year old mall liaison officer whose family claims was abducted by an unidentified group that is demanding a ransom.
Jerald Cebuano, son of missing person Gerardo Cebuano, told Palawan News that his father went missing on Sunday, August 11, after attending mass.
Jerald said before his father disappeared, they saw him at the Roxas public market talking to a suspicious-looking man and woman.
Jerald said his father stands 5’5 in height, medium-built, bald, and was wearing a gray sweatshirt on the day they last saw him.
He said they reported the incident to the Roxas police on August 12 after he failed to come home.
“Sa parteng norte may nakakita sa kanya na may kausap daw na limang lalaki na naka-motor. Yan ang sabi ng matandang nakakita kasi kakilala rin ni tatay,” he said.
Jerald who works in the same mall as his father said they suspect that his abduction was job-related because he is in charge of the money of the mall and keeps its documents.
He declined to give the name of the mall, but he claimed that their management received a text message Thursday from an anonymous sender demanding P200,000 in exchange for Gerardo’s release.
“Pagpasok ko sa trabaho, ang sabi sa akin may tumawag sa main office namin sa Manila. Nagpadala ng text through messenger yata ‘yon na humihingi sila ng P200,000 para daw sa revolutionary tax,” he said.
The sender reportedly threatened that his father’s head will be chopped off if the amount is not sent before August 18.
He also said the anonymous sender threatened to abduct three more employees of the mall if the ransom is not paid.
“Bibigyan lang daw po sila ng hanggang Linggo. Kapag hindi na-comply ihahatid na lang ‘yong ulo ng liason officer sa site, sa area, tapos kukuha pa raw ng tatlong tao,” Jerald said.
Jerald has pleaded to the abductors not to hurt his father.
“Sa akin po kung ‘yon ang kailangan nila huwag naman sana nilang saktan ‘yong tatay ko kasi nagtratrabaho lang naman siya ng maayos. Kung anong interes nila makipag-negosasyon sila ng maayos para wala ng ibang madamay,” he said.
