Incident Summary:
03/21/1999: Luis Toh, a Chinese-Filipino businessman, was reportedly abducted by ten unidentified men in Margosatubig, Philippines. The attackers were armed with automatic weapons and handguns and engaged in a gun battle with the police who responded to the attack. One policeman and eight civilians were wounded in the battle. The government suspected either the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) or the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in this incident. The family received a ransom note demanding 5 million Philippine Pesos (approximately $128,000) for his release.
Overview
GTD ID:
199903210007
When:
1999-03-21
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Southeast Asia
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Zamboanga del Sur
City:
Margosatubig
What
Attack Information
| Type of Attack () |
Armed Assault |
| Type of Attack () |
Hostage Taking (Kidnapping) |
| Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
| Target Type: Police |
|---|
| Name of Entity |
Philippines Law Enforcement |
| Specific Description |
Margosatubig police |
| Nationality of Target |
Philippines |
| Target Type: Private Citizens & Property |
|---|
| Name of Entity |
Civilian |
| Specific Description |
Civilians in Margosatubig |
| Nationality of Target |
Philippines |
| Target Type: Private Citizens & Property |
|---|
| Name of Entity |
Civilian |
| Specific Description |
Luis Toh, a Chinese-Filipino businessman |
| Nationality of Target |
Philippines |
Additional Information
| Hostages |
Yes |
| Number of Hostages |
1 |
| US Hostages |
0 |
| Outcome |
Unknown |
| Ransom |
Yes |
| Total Ransom Amount Demanded |
103300.00 |
| Ransom Amount Demanded from US Sources |
0.00 |
| Total Ransom Amount Paid |
Unknown |
| Total Ransom Amount Paid by US Sources |
Unknown |
| Ransom Notes |
The ransom note was sent to the family for 5 million Philippine Pesos. [converted to 2009 USD] |
| Property Damage |
No |
How
Weapon Information
| Type |
Sub-type |
| Firearms |
Automatic Weapon |
Additional Information
| Suicide Attack? | No |
| Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
| Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
| Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
| Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
| Doubt Terrorism Proper () |
Yes |
| Alternate Designation () |
Other Crime Type |
Who
Perpetrator Statistics
| Number of Perpetrators |
10 |
| Number of Captured Perpetrators |
0 |
Casualty Information
| Total Number of Casualties |
9 Injured |
| Total Number of Fatalities |
Unknown |
| Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
| Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
Unknown |
| Total Number of Injured |
9 |
| Number of U.S. Injured |
0 |
| Number of Perpetrators Injured |
Unknown |
Sources
Sources
| “Still another businessman kidnapped in Zamboanga City,” Business World, March 24, 1999. |
| “Ransom note?”, Business World, March 31,1999. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties
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