Teachers alarmed by reported death of a colleague kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay

BY BULATLAT

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) expressed alarm over reports that one of the teachers kidnapped by unidentified abductors earlier this month in Zamboanga Sibugay has died while in captivity.

According to a statement by the Provincial Crisis Management Committee of Zamboanga Sibugay, Noemi Mandi, 38, passed away because she was not provided with her maintenance medicine. Mandi had been through surgery before her abduction.

Mandi, together with Jocelyn Inion, 39, and Jocelyn Enriquez, 43, all teachers of Bangkaw-Bangkaw Elementary School, were abducted at sea last March 13 while on their way home. Police have identified their abductors as a group of pirates led by Kamsa Asdanal. The kidnappers are demanding a P10 million ransom for the release of the teachers.

ACT National Chairman Antonio Tinio said, “We are saddened to hear reports of the alleged demise of one of the teachers kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay. Once again, we condemn those responsible for these abductions that have victimized these dedicated public servants and deprived hundreds of school children of access to education. We urge the authorities to immediately verify the condition of all teachers being held in captivity and to redouble their efforts to secure their immediate release.”

Another group of teachers abducted in Zamboanga City still remain in captivity. Last January 23, Rafael Mayonado, 22, Janette de los Reyes, 27, and Freires Quizon, 29, were kidnapped at sea while traveling by boat from Sacol Island, half a mile east of Zamboanga City. Quizon and de los Reyes are teachers of Arena Blanco National High School , Landang Gua Annex, while Mayonado is with Landang Gua Elementary School . Their abductors, identified by authorities as a “lost command” of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), have demanded a P5 million ransom.

The ACT vowed to monitor the conditions of the two groups of teachers that have been held in captivity. The group noted that the the Zamboanga City teachers have been held hostage for 64 days while the Zamboanga Sibugay teachers have been captive for 15 days.

“We will maintain this tally to remind the public of the plight of our fellow teachers and to push the authorities to secure their release at the soonest possible time. We call on schools throughout the country to do the same. We call on the Department of Education to keep a similar tally at the central office in Pasig,” said Tinio. (Bulatlat.com)

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