Students urge release of kidnapped teachers

Zamboanga City: More than 600 school children in the island village of Landang Gua appealed to the kidnappers of their teachers to free their captives unharmed.

Such is the strong resolve of elementary pupils and high school students - together with their parents and village officials - who aired the collective appeal in a bid to secure the safe release of their three school teachers.

The teachers of the Landang Pua Elementary and the Landang Pua High School who include Rafael Mayonado, Janette Delos Reyes and Frairez Quizon, were snatched by armed men morning on Friday as they were on their way aboard a boat from the mainland to teach in Langang Pua.

The appeal was aired on Sunday amid an order from the City Schools Division of the Department of Education urging the teachers of the island village of Landang Gua to report to their district offices in the mainland of Zamboanga City, instead of going for their classes in Landang Gua starting today.

A security plan has been drawn during a meeting among school administrators, even as city Police Chief Mario Yanga has already designated policemen to escort the teachers while travelling to their respective schools in the island villages.

Musa Sakaluran, village chief of Landang Gua said the teachers and the education they provide are the only hope for the 624 students and their parents in the island to get out of poverty.

Landang Gua is one of the poor island villages among Zamboanga City's 98 villages. Musa said the immediate release of the teachers will be welcomed, as "many tutors have been gripped with abduction fears, which if not checked will affect education standards in the island."

Alkhodari P. Jakaria, designated principal of both the elementary and high schools in Landang Gua said they are worried for the whereabouts of one of the kidnapped teachers because he was unable to call his family.

The two others were allowed to call their kin and had relayed information that the kidnappers are demanding a hefty ransom for the three of them.