Commissioner Elias Yusoph of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) called on President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III to declare martial law in Lanao del Sur in the wake of the continued captivity of his son Nuraldin.

“I just want to appeal to His Excellency, President Aquino, that if possible he should place the entire province of Lanao del Sur under military control,” Yusoph said in an interview.

“The President should declare martial law in so far as the whole province of Lanao del Sur because it is being held hostage by this small group,” he added.

Yusoph, who has been silent about the abduction of his son, asked the abductors of his son to release him.

“To the suspects, I appeal to them to release my son safely because I do not want to take the law into my hands. You know, I have prevented my relatives to take the law into their hands. But if the government cannot do anything, then we cannot be blamed if something happens,” he said.

“I have been patient… patient for almost one month. Although it’s too painful, I still have to control my temper. (But) if the government cannot do anything, well, you know it’s our culture and it will become a vendetta,” added Yusoph.

Yusoph’s son was abducted in Barangay Sabala Amanao in Marawi City while on his way to pray at the Bato Ali Mosque last month.

On Tuesday, a soldier was killed while five others were wounded when Nuraldin’s suspected kidnappers ambushed a military convoy that was conducting an operation in Poona Bayabao town in a bid to locate the victim.