September 12, 2000, BusinessWorld, Abu Sayyaf strikes again Malaysians kidnapped anew,

September 12, 2000, BusinessWorld, Abu Sayyaf strikes again Malaysians kidnapped anew,

A group of Tausug-speaking armed men, feared to be linked to the extremist Abu Sayyaf has struck again, this time abducting at gunpoint three Malaysians in still another Malaysian diving resort near Tawi-Tawi (southern Mindanao). 

Acting chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Jose Calimlim told reporters in Malacañang the three were abducted by four armed men from a diving resort in Pandanan Island in northeastern Borneo at around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Mr. Calimlim said the armalite-wielding kidnappers forced resort manager Muhammad Nur Solaiman resort contractor Ken Wee Cheong and diver Joseph Dioquino to board a blue speedboat. 

Mr. Calimlim said reports from his Malaysian counterpart indicated the group was last seen heading towards Philippine waters, specifically towards Bato-Bato island near Tawi-Tawi. Mr. Calimlim said President Joseph E. Estrada has been notified of the recent incident and has instructed all concerned authorities not to allow the group to enter Philippine waters. "I talked to my Malaysian counterpart and so far they cannot confirm whether the abductors are Filipinos. But I already directed the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard to assist us and to prevent or capture the boat that is carrying these hostages in case they will enter Philippine territory," Mr. Calimlim said. He said the Air Force is also scouring the area. 

"When I talked to Malaysian authorities they believed that they're still in Malaysian territorial waters," Mr. Calimlim said at the sidelines of the Mindanao Coordinating Council (MCC) meeting in Malacañang. Press Secretary Ricardo V. Puno, Jr., in a separate briefing late yesterday afternoon, said the latest report from Malaysia indicated the abductors were Tausug speaking, but concerned authorities have yet to verify if the abductors were Filipinos. 

The new kidnapping incident came four months after the April 23 abduction of 21 mostly foreigners tourists and resort workers from another diving resort in Sipadan, off Sabah. The extremist Abu Sayyaf later owned up to the abduction and has so far released the 20 hostages reportedly in exchange for millions of dollars in ransom. It has yet to release one Filipino hostage. 

Asked whether there is a similarity in the recent abduction with the Sipadan case, Mr. Calimlim said, "The way they described it, it's similar. But they (Malaysian authorities) can't confirm if these are also Filipino kidnappers." He said there are a lot of "pirates" of other nationalities in the area who are also engaging in kidnapping. 

Executive Secretary Ronaldo B. Zamora, in a separate interview, took a potshot at Libya and Malaysia for reportedly paying the Abu Sayyaf millions of dollars for the release of the Sipadan hostages. "We have said even before that paying ransom ultimately comes back to bite you. This is a policy that is really self-defeating. The more you pay ransom, the more you encourage kidnapping. I hope this is not the case in this (new abduction) particular situation," Mr. Zamora said. 

He said he has reported to the President the latest kidnapping incident although he said the government has yet to confirm whether this is another kidnap-for-ransom case. "Let's wait for more details. Even Malaysia right now can't say that this incident is because of the lack of any ransom demand." 

He said the government could not yet reveal its next moves with regards to the Abu Sayyaf since the extremist group still holds as hostage a Filipino diving instructor from Sipadan, two French journalists and 11 members of the Jesus Miracle Crusade. 

OUT OF CONTROL 

Meanwhile, Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao governor Nur Misuari, who attended the MCC meeting, blamed Malacañang for letting the Abu Sayyaf problem get out of control. Mr. Misuari pointed said the President originally asked him to handle the Jolo hostage situation, only to be replaced after two weeks by Robert N. Aventajado as chief government negotiator. 

He also warned that around 5,000 former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) combatants have joined the Abu Sayyaf since the group has the "resources." He said reports reaching him indicate the Abu Sayyaf has received "1 billion Philippine pesos or PhP (US$21 million at PhP45.522=$1) in ransom" and is using the money to beef up its stock of firearms. "Now, the MNLF is losing its 5,000 members who are now transferring to the Abu Sayyaf. The Abu Sayyaf is now ready to defy anyone." 

Mr. Calimlim also confirmed the Abu Sayyaf has been buying high-powered firearms procured from fellow Muslims in Mindanao. "We are checking first the sources of this firearms. It appears their stocks are being kept by our Muslim brothers, the price right now very high because they have a lot of money," he said. 

HOMEWARD BOUND 

Meanwhile, the four Europeans released by the Abu Sayyaf over the weekend left on board an Ilyushin plane bound for Tripoli, Libya yesterday. Col. Arcadio Seron, spokesman of the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Airbase (Cebu, Central Visayas), said the Libyan aircraft arrived at the base yesterday dawn. It took off with the four Europeans at around 6 a.m. yesterday. 

German Marc Wallert, Frenchman Stephane Loisy and Finns Seppo Fraenti and Risto Vahanen arrived at the Mactan airbase Saturday night from Zamboanga City, where they were brought after they were plucked out of the jungles of Jolo, Sulu. They were the last Europeans from the original group of hostages seized by the Muslim extremist group from the Sipadan diving resort in Malaysia. 

RANSOM PAYMENT PROBE 

In a related development, the Senate will investigate Malacañang's alleged consent to the payment of ransom to the Abu Sayyaf for the release of foreign hostages in Jolo. Senator Teofisto T. Guingona, Jr., who is seeking the probe, cited reports that foreign governments actively participated in negotiations that led to the release of the hostages. "Reports allege that millions of US dollars variously described as ransom money, development aid and cost of board and lodging, were paid for the release of the hostages," he said in resolution no. 860. 

He said money was apparently paid with the government's consent. He cited the Estrada administration's conflicting no-ransom policy stand. "At times it was maintaining that it was against the payment of ransom; at other times, it was tacitly admitting that ransom money was paid." Mr. Guingona also noted that if the money were mere development assistance, it would need Philippine government acceptance and should go through the normal budgetary process. -- Leotes Marie T. Lugo, Maritess S. Villamor and Norman P. Aquino