Another peace worker kidnapped

MANILA, Philippines - Unidentified gunmen kidnapped a Sri Lankan volunteer working as a peace advocate in Lamitan, Basilan early yesterday.

Omar Jaleel, 36, an Ustadz (Muslim preacher) working as a volunteer of the nonpartisan group Nonviolent Peaceforce, was taken by nine gunmen who roused him from sleep inside his quarters at Sitio San Jose, Barangay Moloong around 2:30 a.m.

The gunmen spared Natan Insiong and his wife, the caretakers of the house where Jaleel was billeted, officials said.

They are guiding authorities in combing the jungle hinterlands of Lamitan to try to locate the hostage.

Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay said a witness saw Jaleel being dragged into a waiting van. Another witness fired warning shots in an attempt to alert militiamen who rushed to the scene but were not able to catch up with the kidnappers.

Initial reports said the gunmen also snatched Gil Tura, Jameel’s caretaker, but he managed to escape when militiamen arrived at the scene.

Furigay said the gunmen also took some of the personal belongings of Jaleel before escaping.

“Omar Jaleel was taken from the Nonviolent Peaceforce residence by a group of armed men,” the non-government advocacy group said in a statement.

“The motive for his abduction is not known, nor is the affiliation, if any, or identity of his captors,” they said.

The group said it did not pay ransom money, and urged the kidnappers to “release him unharmed as quickly as possible.”

Jaleel had been working as a volunteer for the Brussels-based organization for four months. The group has been monitoring the separatist uprising in southern Philippines.

Chief Inspector Rolando Dimocrito, city police chief, said their initial investigation of witnesses revealed Jaleel had expressed fear that he might be abducted following the spate of kidnappings of foreigners in the region.

Jaleel is the third foreigner kidnapped after suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen abducted International Committee of the Red Cross volunteers Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba in Jolo, Sulu last Jan. 15.

Yesterday’s kidnapping came as government troops were gearing up to end the four-week hostage crisis.

Three schoolteachers who were kidnapped last Jan. 23 at Sacol Island in Zamboanga are believed to have been taken to Basilan by their captors.

The kidnappers of schoolteachers Rafael Mayonado, Jeanette de los Reyes and Frairez Quizon are reportedly demanding P6 million for their release.

Another kidnap victim, a local health worker in Basilan, was able to escape last week from his abductors who had been holding him captive for several days.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team 7 have started pursuit operations against the kidnappers.

Arevalo said the newly formed rapid response force, 67th Marine Raiders Company, is currently undergoing tactical briefing in Zamboanga City prior to their deployment to the area where Jaleel was believed taken.

“Based on the initial report of the police, the ones who took Jaleel were armed young males, so based on that information we would be running after them,” he said.

Arevalo could not say if the kidnappers made any ransom demand.

“We are not inclined to say that this is another abduction to collect ransom until a demand for such is made known to the Philippine National Police or military authorities or family members,” Arevalo said. –With Roel Pareño, James Mananghaya, AP