Southcom declares Sulu as ‘high risk’ for journalists

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Freedom of the press is best tempered by caution.

The military declared Sulu yesterday as a high-risk area for visiting journalists covering the offensive operation launched by the government against the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, officials said yesterday.

The military has put restrictions on the media following the coordination issued by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) after a reporter and a cameraman of GMA-7 Television Inc. were abducted.

Southern Command (Southcom) chief Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina said journalists will be given security officers to prevent any further abductions, since the Abu Sayyaf has been known to kidnap members of the press.

Carolina said Southcom will be issuing a list of areas classified as "security areas" to journalists covering the crisis in Mindanao.

"Because of the relentless (offensive) operation, the Abu Sayyaf are on the marginal areas, so some of the media are dangerously venturing to (these) areas just to interview the group," Carolina said.

He said there are small, enterprising groups of bandits who would conduct the abductions and "market" their victims to the Abu Sayyaf.

"The bandits in the area are also doing the marketing. They will get their hostages and trade them to the bigger group of the Abu Sayyaf, (who) have the money to buy the ‘merchandise’," Carolina said, adding that "kidnapping has become a lucrative business (for) the Abu Sayyaf." — Roel Pareño