Alleged kidnapper came from well-off family

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - Did troops pursuing the kidnappers of Filipino-Swiss Charlie Rieth kill the wrong man?

This, after the mother and uncle of Ibno Kais, who was killed by military in an alleged shootout in a coastal village of Zamboanga City, claimed that there was no reason for the suspect to engage in kidnapping.

"Medyo may kaya rin naman kami ng kahit konti. Mabait na bata siya. Wala siyang ginagawang masama gaya ng sinasabi na pinagbintangan siyang kidnapper," Warid Amajin, an uncle of the slain suspect, told ABS-CBN Zamboanga in an exclusive interview.

Amajin said Kais's father is the incumbent chairman of Barangay Baiwas in Sumisip town, Basilan province. The family owns a rubber plantation, he added.

He said that he saw no reason why Kais would engage in kidnapping-for-ransom activities since his family has a very good source of income.

Kais was killed along the shoreline of Barangay San Ramon in Zamboanga City around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, the same day troops rescued Rieth from his kidnappers.

Chief Superintendent Francisco Cristobal, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Western Mindanao, said pursuing security forces spotted Kais and 2 other men while they were allegedly waiting for their escape boat.

Cristobal said seized after the encounter with Kais's group was one .45 caliber pistol.

Visiting wife in Cotabato City

Kais's mother, Amiya Jaber, told ABS-CBN Zamboanga that her son told her that he was leaving for Cotabato City to meet his wife.

Jaber said Kais left their home in Basilan province on Tuesday.

She said that from Basilan, her son traveled to Zamboanga City, where he was supposed to take a ferry ride to Cotabato City.

She said that her son had never left their province before the supposed encounter because he was busy working in their rubber plantation.

"Hindi iyon totoo na sinasabi na kidnapper ang anak ko. Hindi," the mother said.

Despite their claim, Jaber said they are not planning to file cases against the soldiers and policemen involved in the supposed encounter.

The family is also not planning to ask for an investigation. She said they only want the authorities to turn over her son's body to them so they can give him a proper burial.