Kidnappers demand P15M for Cotabato trader's freedom

KIDAPAWAN CITY — The kidnappers of a Filipino-Chinese businesswoman abducted on April 1 in Cotabato City have asked for a P15-million ransom for her release, authorities said on Wednesday morning. Senior Superintendent Danny Reyes, city police director, said the abductors are negotiating for the ransom with the victim's family. Reyes said the information was relayed by the local Chinese traders' community and the military and police intelligence. The kidnap victim — Jinky Yap — was snatched by armed men in front of her mini-grocery store along Sinsuat Avenue on Friday last week. She was dragged to a waiting van when she resisted, witnesses told Reyes. Reyes also admitted that they have difficulty in getting information and cooperation from the Yap’s family. Yap was kidnapped about two months after gunmen snatched Adin Yu, owner of the Yu Kian Gian Hardware, Inc., while he was about to board his car in front of a Casino in the city. For several weeks now, talks have been circulating that Yu, whose family also owns restaurants and a bakery, might have died from injuries he sustained when he was abducted. Aside from Yap and Yu, kidnappers also separately seized Nelson Tay and Conchita Tan, both hardware store owners in the city. Tay and Tan were separately released after paying "board and lodging" fees to their respective kidnappers. — Williamor A. Magbanua/LBG, GMA News