Incident Summary:

08/10/2013: Assailants abducted Mark Anthony Baya, the son of a retired Filipino army officer and local village official, from his family's store in Tumbras village, Midsayap municipality, North Cotabato province, Philippines. Baya was released unharmed on August 21, 2013. No group claimed responsibility for the incident; however, police officials initially attributed the kidnapping to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM). When Baya was released, other police sources claimed he had been abducted by a kidnapping gang.

GTD ID:
201308100018

When:
2013-08-10

Country:
Philippines

Region:
Southeast Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

North Cotabato

City:
Tumbras

Location Details:
The incident took place in Midsayap municipality.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Hostage Taking (Kidnapping)
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Not Applicable
Specific Description Son of Retired Officer: Mark Anthony Baya
Nationality of Target Philippines
Additional Information
Hostages Yes
Number of Hostages 1
US Hostages 0
Days of Kidnapping 11
Outcome Hostage(s) released by perpetrators
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) No
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) Yes
Alternate Designation (more) Other Crime Type
Additional Information There is doubt that this incident meets terrorism-related criteria. It is unclear whether the victim was abducted by the BIFM or by a kidnapping gang.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) (suspected) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 5
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Kidnap victim freed in Cotabato," Tempo, August 22, 2013.
"Abducted N. Cotabato college student gains freedom," Philippines News Agency, August 21, 2013.
"Abducted N. Cotabato college student gains freedom," Daily Zamboanga Times, August 21, 2013.