7 June 2005
Philippines The 19-year-old daughter of a prominent tuna-fishing operator earlier reported missing and believed to have been kidnapped returned home Friday evening.
Sheila Granfon, eldest daughter of rich tuna fishing magnate Trece Granfon, reportedly arrived in their house after disappearing for almost twenty four hours.
Her sudden disappearance had local police authorities here believing she was kidnapped by unidentified armed men. Her uncle, Roel Granfon, immediately denied reports she was abducted.
Roel Granfon appeared with Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. in a hastily called press conference at Camp Fermin Lira midnight Friday to assure the local media that no kidnapping incident took place. He said the family would disclose the full details of the incident in due time.
The supposed kidnap victim was not presented during the late night press conference but the city mayor said she was safe and just taking a rest at their residence.
â€Shiela is now at home. Niuli si Sheila ug naa sa balay,†Acharon told reporters who rushed to the General Santos City Police Office headquarters in Camp Fermin Lira after news of Sheila's return broke out. Acharon also reiterated that the incident was not a kidnapping case. He said Sheila was with a "companion" when she hide off somewhere in the city.
The city mayor did not elaborate any further. Sheila was last monitored Thursday evening at the KCC Mall of General Santos before she went missing.
Her Nissan Sentra sedan was found abandoned near London Beach Resort in Barangay Bawing, some 20 kilometers away from the city proper.
On Friday, police and local authorities here imposed a news blackout although a Sun.Star source said they conducted a hot pursuit operation.
The family of the missing youngster likewise refused to talk to the local media here.
In a related development, Acharon also confirmed receiving intelligence reports that several prominent residents here.
Carmen Granfon, mother of Sheila, is among those reportedly targeted by a kidnap for ransom group.
Also reportedly included in the list are a top executive of a multi-national company and a hardware owner in the city.
But newly installed Police Regional Office 12 director Chief Superintendent Danilo Mangila immediately gave assurance that the police authorities in the region are on the lookout against possible kidnappings.
The last prominent kidnapping incident in the city was the case involving dentist Dr. Josefina Montecillo in December 2002.
Montecillo was recovered just outside the city less than a week after her family reportedly paid P1.5 million in ransom money.
Other residents who were abducted by armed men were Jose Uson and Carlos Belonio.
Uson was snatched by several armed men in his fishpond farm in Alabel, Sarangani in 2002 while Belonio was held at gunpoint in Barangay Malisbong in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat together with Korean national in February 2003.
The identities of the kidnappers of Montecillo and Uson remain a mystery while that of Belonio was claimed by the Abu Sufian gang.
