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Thursday, April 19, 2007
Sayyaf demands P5-M ransom for release of 7 hostages
By Bong Garcia

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Abductors, believed to be members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, are demanding a P5 million ransom in exchange for the safe release of the six construction workers and a fish-drier-laborer they seized in the hinterland of Sulu.

The six workers, who are employed with the construction firm of Sulu Governor Benjamin Loong, were seized around 9 a.m. on Monday in the town of Parang by the group of Albader Parad, a mid-level Abu Sayyaf leader.

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Parad's group also seized the fish-drier-laborer identified as Crisanto Patrocenio. The victim was taken from a passenger jeep blocked by Parad's group in the same town.

Loong said the information about the ransom demand was relayed to him by his construction supervisor. The demand was sent through text message by the victims to their foreman.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) Police Director Joel Goltiao said he also received information about the ransom demand.

Goltiao said he ordered to check the authenticity of the information.

The six construction workers were identified as Nonoy Ampoy, Roger Francisco, Loi Teodoro, Toto Nillas, Dennis delos Reyes and Wilmer Santos -- all from Zamboanga City.

Loong called on the kidnappers to free all the seven victims unharmed, saying he will not pay ransom in exchange for the release of the hostages.

Aside from the hostages, Parad's group also took the dump truck the construction workers were riding when they were seized.

They are working on the Silangkan-Parang road-concreting project, the reason why they are in the area.

Goltiao said they are now tracking the whereabouts of the kidnappers and the victims to work out for the release of the hostages.

Parad is among those wanted for kidnapping by the government.

He was involved in the mass kidnapping in 2000 wherein 21 people, composed of Europeans and Asians, were seized from Sipadan, Malaysia.

The Anti-Terrorism Task Force has set a US$ 15,000 bounty for the neutralization of Parad.

Loong said it was unclear whether the kidnappings were intended to divert troops who are hunting for Muslim rebel commander Habier Malik and his men from the Moro National Liberation Front. Malik was blamed for deadly mortar attacks in Jolo last week.

Military chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said Malik has provided sanctuary to Abu Sayyaf guerrillas and Indonesian militants who have been targeted by the U.S.-backed offensive, which resulted in the killing of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khaddafy Janjalani last year and his presumed successor, Abu Sulaiman, in January.

An estimated 300 to 400 Abu Sayyaf gunmen remain at large on Jolo, about 950 kilometers (590 miles) south of Manila.

Washington has blacklisted the Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist group and has offered large rewards for the capture of its top commanders. (with reports from AP/Sunnex)