/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ April 7, 2009, Manila Standard Today, Abu Sayyaf got P5.5m for hostage, by Joyce Pangco Pañares,
April 7, 2009, Manila Standard Today, Abu Sayyaf got P5.5m for hostage, by Joyce Pangco Pañares,
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April 7, 2009, Manila Standard Today, Abu Sayyaf got P5.5m for hostage, by Joyce Pangco Pañares,
CLOSE to P5.5 million in “board and lodging” was paid to the Abu Sayyaf in exchange for the freedom of Red Cross worker Mary Jean Lacaba Thursday last week, a high-ranking source in the Sulu-based crisis committee said.
“Some P5.5 million changed hands. The exchange was facilitated by the negotiators,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
The source declined to give more details, but Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the alleged payment of a ransom would be investigated.
"I have no official information that ransom was paid. It is the policy of the government not to pay ransom,” Teodoro said in a telephone interview.
“But if there is evidence warranting an investigation, we will do it after the crisis is over.”
Senator Richard Gordon, the chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, who has crossed swords with Teodoro over the handling of the kidnap crisis, denied ransom had been paid.
The group of Abu Sayyaf commander Albader Parad is still holding two other Red Cross workers: Eugenio Vagni of Italy and Andreas Notter of Switzerland.
Charges were filed yesterday against seven people, including three policemen and the village chief of Indanan, for helping the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers. Police said the suspects were related to Abu Sayyaf leaders either by blood or marriage.
The suspects were identified as police officers Muhilmi Ismula, Marcial Ahajan and Sattal Jadjuli; Parang village chief Alano Mohammad, Sawaki village chief Julhassan Awadi, Hadjirul Bambra, and Ibnogajir Hadjirul.
Bambra and Hadjirul were suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf group, while Ismula was believed to be Parad’s nephew, investigators said.
Lacaba, Vagni and Notter, who had earlier rejected the military’s offer to provide them security while in Mindanao, were abducted on Jan. 15 while on a humanitarian mission in Jolo.
Gordon is negotiating on behalf of the Red Cross, and Sulu Vice Gov. Nurana Sahidulla is the emissary of the crisis committee.
Teodoro yesterday said Gordon was sabotaging official efforts to free the remaining hostages. He also described as unfair the senator’s remarks that their blood would be on the President’s hands if the bandits carried out a threat to behead their captives.
Teodoro also ruled out talks with the bandits, saying Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan was on top of the negotiations.
In Congress, Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon urged Teodoro and Gordon to stop bickering, but said all negotiations should be done by the crisis management team led by Tan.
Unfazed, Gordon said he would keep the communication lines with the bandits open.
“If the hostages are harmed... the Red Cross and humanity will lose, but the loss could be even greater for our nation. Mark my words,’’ he said.
Sahidulla, a distant relative of Parad, said Tan ordered her to stop giving interviews yesterday as the government continued to work for the release of the two remaining hostages.
"The governor called me and told me to stop speaking to the media. I do not know why," Sahidulla said in a telephone interview from Sulu.
Sahidulla said she was not aware of money changing hands for Lacaba's release, adding some "envious, malicious and nosey" people were trying to implicate her in the ransom payment.
Lacaba was released to Sahidulla Thursday night by Parad’s group.
"I am the negotiator because the Abu Sayyaf know me and they respect me," Sahidulla said, adding she was doing a man’s job.
She said the only demand that the Abu Sayyaf had made was for the military to pull out of Sulu.
Sahidulla said insinuations that she was "doing an Isnaji" were unfair, referring to charges that Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji was the mastermind behind the kidnapping of broadcaster Ces Drilon last year.
It was in Sahidull''s house where Isnaji had counted the P5-million ransom for Drilon, and of which P3 million was reportedly pocketed by the mayor and his son, Haider.
CLOSE to P5.5 million in “board and lodging” was paid to the Abu Sayyaf in exchange for the freedom of Red Cross worker Mary Jean Lacaba Thursday last week, a high-ranking source in the Sulu-based crisis committee said.
“Some P5.5 million changed hands. The exchange was facilitated by the negotiators,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
The source declined to give more details, but Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the alleged payment of a ransom would be investigated.
"I have no official information that ransom was paid. It is the policy of the government not to pay ransom,” Teodoro said in a telephone interview.
“But if there is evidence warranting an investigation, we will do it after the crisis is over.”
Senator Richard Gordon, the chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, who has crossed swords with Teodoro over the handling of the kidnap crisis, denied ransom had been paid.
The group of Abu Sayyaf commander Albader Parad is still holding two other Red Cross workers: Eugenio Vagni of Italy and Andreas Notter of Switzerland.
Charges were filed yesterday against seven people, including three policemen and the village chief of Indanan, for helping the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers. Police said the suspects were related to Abu Sayyaf leaders either by blood or marriage.
The suspects were identified as police officers Muhilmi Ismula, Marcial Ahajan and Sattal Jadjuli; Parang village chief Alano Mohammad, Sawaki village chief Julhassan Awadi, Hadjirul Bambra, and Ibnogajir Hadjirul.
Bambra and Hadjirul were suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf group, while Ismula was believed to be Parad’s nephew, investigators said.
Lacaba, Vagni and Notter, who had earlier rejected the military’s offer to provide them security while in Mindanao, were abducted on Jan. 15 while on a humanitarian mission in Jolo.
Gordon is negotiating on behalf of the Red Cross, and Sulu Vice Gov. Nurana Sahidulla is the emissary of the crisis committee.
Teodoro yesterday said Gordon was sabotaging official efforts to free the remaining hostages. He also described as unfair the senator’s remarks that their blood would be on the President’s hands if the bandits carried out a threat to behead their captives.
Teodoro also ruled out talks with the bandits, saying Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan was on top of the negotiations.
In Congress, Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon urged Teodoro and Gordon to stop bickering, but said all negotiations should be done by the crisis management team led by Tan.
Unfazed, Gordon said he would keep the communication lines with the bandits open.
“If the hostages are harmed... the Red Cross and humanity will lose, but the loss could be even greater for our nation. Mark my words,’’ he said.
Sahidulla, a distant relative of Parad, said Tan ordered her to stop giving interviews yesterday as the government continued to work for the release of the two remaining hostages.
"The governor called me and told me to stop speaking to the media. I do not know why," Sahidulla said in a telephone interview from Sulu.
Sahidulla said she was not aware of money changing hands for Lacaba's release, adding some "envious, malicious and nosey" people were trying to implicate her in the ransom payment.
Lacaba was released to Sahidulla Thursday night by Parad’s group.
"I am the negotiator because the Abu Sayyaf know me and they respect me," Sahidulla said, adding she was doing a man’s job.
She said the only demand that the Abu Sayyaf had made was for the military to pull out of Sulu.
Sahidulla said insinuations that she was "doing an Isnaji" were unfair, referring to charges that Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji was the mastermind behind the kidnapping of broadcaster Ces Drilon last year.
It was in Sahidull''s house where Isnaji had counted the P5-million ransom for Drilon, and of which P3 million was reportedly pocketed by the mayor and his son, Haider.
"I am the negotiator,’" she said. ‘"I should know if ransom was indeed paid and as far as I know, walang binayad na ransom [no ransom was paid]." With Fel V. Maragay, Roy Pelovello, Florante S. Solmerin, AFP
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