March 27, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Abu Sayyaf chief's kin abducted, by Julie Alipala-Inot,

March 27, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Abu Sayyaf chief's kin abducted, by Julie Alipala-Inot,

CAMP ABDUJARAK, Sumisip, Basilan--The wife, year-old daughter, mother and seven other relatives of the leader of the Al-harakatul Islamiya (formerly the Abu Sayyaf) have allegedly been abducted by followers of Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar, the spokesperson of the group said.

Sources in Manila said the abduction of Khadaffy Janjalani's family and relatives in Barangay Tabuk, Isabela town, was viewed by government officials as a bargaining chip to force the Al-harakatul Islamiya (Islamic Movement) to release 53 (not 43 as earlier reported) persons that it had been holding hostage.

Janjalani is the younger brother of Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, founder of the Abu Sayyaf, who was killed in a clash with the military last December in Basilan.

The abduction was announced by Al-harakatul Islamiya spokesperson Abu Ahmad Salayuddin. But Akbar denied the allegation, saying Salayuddin was a liar. Salayuddin said that if any of Janjalani's family and relatives was hurt or killed, ''we will make sure that double the number of hostages would bear the consequences.''

He dared the provincial government, police and military: ''You start something and we'll do the same thing here.'' Salayuddin also said that after the hostages were released, he would challenge Akbar to a confrontation. ''Should the governor (decide to) lead the operation, they should come here. Let's see who's brave,'' he said.

Salayuddin told reporters Thursday afternoon that the hostages--including a Claretian missionary, students and teachers seized from two schools as the rebels escaped after attacking an Army outpost on Monday--would be released only if Akbar and Supt. Ahamadul Pangambayan, provincial police chief, were removed from office.

He said the group preferred Basilan Rep. Gerry Salapuddin and Catholic priest Fr. Martin Jumuad to serve as official negotiators of the government. ''Pangambayan should be removed because his stay here would not result in any good. The trouble here would only get worse. As for Akbar, there are many criminal charges against him,'' Salayuddin said in Filipino.

Lamitan

A report reaching Camp Aguinaldo in Manila said Janjalani's family and relatives had been taken to the Lamitan area on board a passenger jeep. Omar, another of the Janjalani brothers, was reported to be another target for assassination by military agents. But he escaped a grenade attack inside his bakery, also in Basilan.

Jungle press con

According to the Associated Press, Salayuddin met reporters Thursday in a jungle near Maluso town and told them the hostages were being cared for but needed more food and medicine.

The rebels took video cameras from the reporters, taped messages from the hostages at an undisclosed nearby area, and then returned the cameras, said Rey Bayoging, station manager of local radio station dxRZ, who was among the reporters.

In his message, Claretian missionary Fr. Roel Gallardo, appealed to officials to hasten negotiations for their release. ''Don't worry, we're OK. We hope there will be negotiations soon so all of us can return,'' Gallardo said. The videotapes taken by the rebels showed about a dozen children giggling and smiling at one another in a hut in a rebel camp.

One held a rifle, its ammunition magazine removed, given by a rebel beside him. Another boy said: ''Don't worry, Mama, we'll return. I miss you.'' Dr. Juda Lim, the physician requested by the hostage-takers, said that more than 40 hostages were afflicted with minor ailments like cold, fever, headache and cough.

''But they are happy, especially the children who were always playing,'' she said. Lim also said Gallardo was in good health. She said the women and children were being held in one room and the men in another, with separate toilets and bathrooms. ''They are properly attended to and taken care of. All they want is their immediate release,'' Lim said.

In Allah's name

Former Basilan Rep. Candu Muarip urged the Al-harakatul Islamiya to release the hostages without conditions. ''In the name of Allah, free these suffering children and teachers. It would be very much appreciated by people around the world, and the people in Basilan in particular, if you will release them in due time,'' Muarip said.

Muhammad Muslimin, 18, a high school senior of Claret and one of three hostages released Wednesday, aired a similar plea. ''Our studies have been affected. What will happen to our school if they do not release Ama (Father) Gallardo, our principal and all our teachers?'' he said.

Winifer Silorio, 25, who was also released Wednesday, said: ''I hope they will free my fellow teachers, our principal, director, and most especially our students and pupils from other schools. They are innocent.'' Doctors performed surgery Thursday on the pregnant Silorio, to remove the eight- month-old fetus which had died in her womb.

''From what I know, they are also holding some kindergarten children as young as four years old and as old as six,'' Silorio said. Distraught parents and relatives from Tumahubong and Tongsengal, all in Sumisip, trooped to the Provincial Capitol Thursday afternoon to beg Akbar to use his influence in effecting the immediate and safe release of the hostages. ''(The hostage- takers) know we have no money (for ransom). We hope Governor Akbar can help in our children's release. We miss them terribly. They can't take the cold there,'' said Ida Reambonanza, mother of three children being held hostage.

Crisis meeting

National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre visited Basilan Friday and met with members of the newly formed crisis management committee. Aguirre met with Akbar; Brig. Gen. Narciso Abaya, Army chief of the First Infantry Division; Vice Gov. Abdurasid Calumo; Basilan Bishop Romulo de la Cruz; Representative Salapuddin, Muslim leaders and military officials. Abaya said there were 53 hostages confirmed by the hostages' relatives. With reports from Cynthia D. Balana in Manila; AP; and Hernan P. dela Cruz, PDI Mindanao Bureau