January 8, 2000, The Philippine Star, AFP to launch massive offensive vs kidnappers, by Roel Pareno,

January 8, 2000, The Philippine Star, AFP to launch massive offensive vs kidnappers, by Roel Pareno, cache

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The military warned yesterday of a "massive offensive" against the Abu Sayyaf and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) unless they release the three businessmen they had abducted in Sulu and Zamboanga del Sur.

Lt. Gen. Edgardo Espinosa, chief of the Southern Command, issued the warning after the extremist Abu Sayyaf seized a businessman in downtown Jolo, the capital town of Sulu, Thursday morning.

Espinosa said five armed Abu Sayyaf men abducted Edwin "Bobong Cua" Induso, 34, along Arolas street at about 5:45 a.m. Thursday and took the victim to the hinterlands of Patikul town.

Those earlier abducted were Robustiano Hablo Jr. and Ralph Fonda.

Troops backed by police and operatives of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime task Force have been alerted for the rescue mission.

Maj. Salih Indanan, spokesman of Southcom, said the abductors were led by Mujib Susukan alias Commander Robot. Susukan is also a suspect in the abduction of two Hong Kong nationals and a Malaysian on Sept. 9, 1999 in Tawi-Tawi.

Espinosa said so far, the kidnappers have not relayed any demands. He did not give any definite deadline for the kidnappers to release their victims before the military launches its "massive offensive."

He said Marines are continuing the rescue operation on Robustiano Hablo, who was seized by the same group in Jolo last Nov. 20.

Hablo, son of the owner of New Sincere Trading, was also being held in the mountains of Patikul. The kidnappers have reportedly reduced their ransom demands to P1.5 million, a figure still unaffordable to the victim's family.

Another kidnap victim still in the hands of the armed group is Ralph Fonda, who was abducted in Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur last Nov. 17.

Brig. Gen. Narciso Abaya, commander of the Army's First Division, said the Fonda family is negotiating for the victim's release.

He said the abductors, led by Commander Asimuddin Akiddin alias Kiddi of the MILF have lowered their ransom demand from P7 million to P500,000.

Meanwhile, a Marine was killed while another was critically wounded in an ambush yesterday morning in Jolo by suspected Abu Sayyaf members.

The fatality was identified only as a certain Corporal Plumus of the 2nd Marine Brigade based in Talipao town. His wounded companion was Pfc. Joey Albana.

Indanan said two of the victims' companions escaped unhurt during the ambush by armed men at around 7:35 a.m. yesterday.