ZAMBOANGA CITY — Basilan authorities have devised plans to curb syndicated kidnapping but deferred implementation citing the safety of the remaining hostages.
Basilan Vice Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul, designated chief negotiator of the crisis committee, said authorities are ready to lay out the operational plans.
“The operational plans have been prepared but we are prevented in imposing this because we have to remember that there are still hostages this kidnapping group is holding and hopefully we can get them out,” he said.
Sakalahul made the statement following the release of 24-year-old nurse, Preciosa Feliciano, last Friday night after the family paid P200,000,00 “board and lodging fee.”
The victim’s family also gave the kidnappers P1.5-million money, motorcycle and Armalite assault rifle during the course of the negotiation.
The bandits are still holding aid worker Merlie “Millet” Mendoza and Joed Anthony Pilanga, a nursing student of Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
The kidnappers pegged the ransom for Mendoza at US$1.5 million while ransom for Pilanga is at P20 million.
Sakahul said the crisis management committee had left the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership in Basilan to work for the release of Mendoza while they are taking the case of Pilanga.
The victims’ families expressed disbelief on the hefty demand and said they could not raise the amount.
Instead, they appealed to President Arroyo to curb or eradicate the kidnappings, which have already victimized 33 people in Western Mindanao areas.
Col. Remegio Valdez, deputy commander of the 1st Marine Brigade based in Isabela City, Basilan, assured the military has been conducting “overt military action” to prevent the kidnappers from staging similar incident.
“We have continuously intensifying the military effort to thwart the kidnappings,” Valdez said.
Police visibility a deterrent
However, a Catholic bishop yesterday blamed the lack of police visibility for the continued kidnapping incidents in Mindanao.
Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said abductions could have been averted had the authorities been more visible in public places.
“If you go here, you can see for yourself that there is lack of police visibility… people here don’t know where to go whenever they have problems. The police should do their responsibility very well and protect the citizens,” he said in an interview.
Jumoad pointed out that a more active police force would not only limit crime incidents but it could also lead to a more harmonious relationship between the authorities and the people.
“There is a real need for the police to be more visible in doing their work and also, at the same time, as a way so they could gain the trust of the people,” the bishop stressed.
He then slammed the Abu Sayyaf for continuously abducting innocent people despite repeated appeals from both Catholic and Muslim leaders for them to cease such operations.
“They should just altogether stop doing this injustice to the people because it is very un-Islamic. If they really believe in Islam, they should not be violating the rights of the people, especially the innocent ones,” he said.
The prelate said that aside from violating the laws of their religion, the bandits are also committing serious human rights violations by removing their victims’ right to be free.
“That is a definite violation of human rights if one cannot simply go wherever he or she wishes to go or work and earn a living,” Jumoad said. – With Helen Flores