AFP to maintain pressure versus Sayyaf kidnappers

MANILA, Philippines - Troops have thrown a dragnet around the hideout of kidnappers of three Red Cross workers in Sulu while hunting down the gunmen who snatched three teachers in Basilan.

The military has also launched a manhunt for the kidnappers of Sri Lankan peace worker Umar Jaleel in Lamitan City, Basilan.

Speaking over radio dzBB, Armed Forces civil relations chief Brig. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan said the military will not ease up the pressure against three kidnap gangs in Basilan and Sulu despite negotiations for the freedom of their hostages.

Negotiations for the release of Red Cross workers Andreas Notter, Eugenio Vagni and Mary Jean Lacaba are indications that the kidnappers are feeling the heat of the military offensive, he added.

Pangilinan said while troops are avoiding armed contact with the kidnappers, they are pushing to contain the gangs in a specific area to prevent them from escaping.

“Not necessarily (slow down the pressure), the pressure is on, they are asking for negotiations, it means the pressure is working, it proves that what (Major) Gen. (Juancho) Sabban and the troops are doing is effective,” he said.

Pangilinan said a collective decision to slow down on the military offensive does not mean that troops would stop efforts to rescue the hostages.

Commodore Alexander Pama, Naval Forces Western Mindanao chief, has realigned his forces and deployed troops in areas where kidnappings could take place, following the snatching of Jaleel, he added.

Pangilinan said troops are hunting down Jaleel’s abductors, whose affiliation has not been established.

“It is just saddening that he is a member of an NGO that does not want violence and yet they still preyed on him,” he said. “We hope there is no deeper motive to this.”

Peaceniks rally vs kidnappings

Civil society groups held a rally in Jolo, Sulu yesterday to demand the release of three Red Cross workers kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf Commander Albader Parad and his gang more than a month ago.

Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police commander, said the multi-sectoral peace rally was held to express the citizens’ deep concern for the kidnap victims, as well as implications of the kidnapping to their province.

“The rally was monitored by the Task Force ICRC and the groups who held the rally were fully cooperative with the police,” he said.

“They just want to air out their grievances and frustrations regarding the situation. The fact that the progress of their province is being derailed because of such incidents prompted them to take action.”

The rallyists assembled in front of the Jolo Municipal Police Station to proceed with their peace rally with the theme, “Paghambuuk Pa Kahunungan,” Jabarani said.

Guest speakers included Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan; Commander of Joint Task Force Comet, Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban; police provincial director Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim; and Jolo Mayor Husin Amin. — James Mananghaya, Cecille Suerte Felipe