PIOLO, not his real name, seems to be at home now with his new school in Ipil, the capital town of Zamboanga Sibugay.
The seven-year-old boy, who hails from Payao town of Zamboanga Sibugay, is enrolled in one of the upscale private schools in the town. He goes to school with his nanny.
His parents were from Payao, the nanny said after she agreed to talk after being assured their names will be kept confidential.
“Piolo’s parents decided to leave their place temporarily due to security reasons,” the nanny told VoxPop Philippines.
No one can be sure of safety in their town, the nanny said in dialect.
Kidnapping has become commonplace without knowing who is the next victim, she clarified.
Payao is a coastal town situated obliquely across Olutanga Island. The island’s population is pre-dominantly Muslim.
A fourth-class municipality, poverty is widespread in the area and banditry -- be it extortion, sea piracy or kidnap-for-ransom -- is written all over. The place is allegedly the home to notorious groups because of its location.
Payao town is about 20 kilometers from the national highway, connected by unpaved road that will turn muddy and become impassable during rainy season. It is more accessible by sea at present.
The town belongs to one of the poorest towns of the province, with more than half of its population, according to local planning records available, has no regular employment and steady source of income. More than 90 percent of its population depend on agriculture.
Kidnap-for-ransom activities in the town has its link with the Abu Sayyaf (the Sword of God), which has been held responsible for the series of kidnappings and terror attacks on civilians, church groups, and the military.
Extortion and kidnapping activities in the town has been allegedly due to lack of employment opportunities, absence of income sources and extreme poverty in the town, which condition is shared by the neighboring coastal towns. Thirteen of the 16 towns of the province are situated along the coasts.
The local kidnap group, one source said, started operating on their own but recently learned to work together by passing one hostage to another as their means to confuse government authorities.
What is alarming, peace and security personnel said, is that kidnappings are no longer targeting the rich and influential. Even ordinary government employees and small businesses are now kidnapping targets.
Piolo’s situation, and several others like him, is similar with that of the eight-year-old boy who was released by the Abu Sayyaf last February 27 after more than seven months in captivity.
Ricson Romoc was kidnapped along with his parents, Nora and Elmer, on August 5, 2016 in their residence in Payao town.
The mother was released few weeks after the abduction allegedly on the agreement that she would raise the money for the kidnappers.
Ricson’s father was released last November after the family paid an undisclosed amount as ransom.
The boy’s release came after the family allegedly paid P3 million to the kidnappers.
Authorities, however, said the boy was rescued from the hands of his abductors. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said no ransom was paid.
Dureza said the eight-year-old boy was rescued with the help of local authorities and armed groups who are friendly to the government.
Several negotiations were done, leading to the rescue, saying the government has maintained its policy of no ransom.
“We never gave any ransom,” he said in direct reference to reports that a ransom was paid in exchange for the freedom of the captive.
The official, however, admitted later that the mother was released after an unspecified amount was paid as ransom. The father’s freedom also came in exchange of P1 million.
The Romoc family has no plan to return to their hometown after their seven-month-old ordeal is over.
Reports said the boy’s family is planning to resettle in Manila where they have to start a new life. (VoxPop Philippines)