CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Filipino-Chinese businesswoman who was kidnapped by unidentified men on May 14 was rescued by the combined elements of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) early Tuesday morning, which, sources said, was a positive development for the peace process in Mindanao.

Government peace panel chairperson Marvic Leonen said Angelina Suken Chew Manjique was rescued from her kidnappers by the 6th Infantry Division and the MILF at 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Kabuntalan, Maguindanao, after a 10-day pursuit operation.

“I congratulate the 6th Infantry Division, led by Brig. Gen. Rey Ardo, and the MILF for conducting successful joint operations, as well as the Coordinating Committee in the Cessation of Hostilities [CCCH] and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group of both parties for complementing the actions of the military and police,” Leonen said in a statement e-mailed to this reporter.

Leonen also congratulated the joint CCCH and ad hoc group for “preventing unnecessary armed encounters between the government and the Moro group, while the former was conducting law-enforcement operations in a MILF area.”

Brig. Gen. Rey Ardo, commander of the 6th Infantry Division of the Army, said Mantigue “was immediately taken to Camp Siongco Station Hospital here inside our headquarters for medical check-up.”

“We are confident that with the ceasefire mechanisms in place, similar incidents shall be successfully addressed. The pursuit operation does not stop with the release of the victim. Continuous joint law-enforcement operations are undergoing and appropriate charges shall be filed against the perpetrators,” Ardo said.

Manjigue was kidnapped on May 14 by five unidentified men, while she was attending to her grocery store at about 3 p.m. She was later brought to the Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao, which is occupied by MILF members.

Upon learning that the victim was brought to the area, the military and police immediately coordinated with the government CCCH and ad hoc group, for assistance. The members of the government’s CCCH and ad hoc group also coordinated with their counterparts in the MILF.

Leonen, however, expressed dismay that some of the kidnappers were members of the MILF splinter group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters of Amerel Ombra Kato, who reportedly aided the kidnappers while they were being pursued by the Army and the MILF.  

“We will certainly raise this with the MILF. We urge them to take these actions of elements of Ombra Kato seriously. During our last meeting with the MILF, they represented that Kato was still part of the MILF. Lasting peace does not have room for those who do not respect the rights of civilians and put them in harm’s way. There should be no safe haven for anyone involved in these nefarious activities,” he said.