Abus free farmer in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – One of the nine hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan was released Monday after almost two weeks in captivity, officials said yesterday.

Ernald Jace Chavez, a 23-year-old farmer, was abandoned by his captors in a small hut in Barangay Magkawa in Al-barka town after police intelligence operatives raided the area, according to Superintendent Danilo Bacas, spokesman of the regional police of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The bandits killed Chavez’s two other companions shortly after they were kidnapped last April 10.

Bacas said Emilio Clemente was shot and killed when he tried to escape. Cosme Aballes, on the other hand, was found dead two days after they were kidnapped.

Chavez was among nine people snatched in separate incidents by the Abu Sayyaf and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas led by Nurhassan Jamiri.

The other hostages include teachers Janette de los Reyes, Rafael Mayonado, Freires Quizon; lending company employee Lea Patris, and Sri Lankan peace volunteer Umar Jaleel.

The gunmen are also holding three other teachers – Noemi Mandi, Jocelyn Inion, and Jocelyn Enriquez – kidnapped in Naga town, Zamboanga Sibugay province last March.

Chavez’s release came a week after the Basilan crisis committee authorized the military and police to proceed with rescue operations.

His family reportedly pawned a farm to raise the P50,000 ransom demand for his release.

Chavez later told newsmen that his kidnappers, whom he described as a group of teenagers, initially demanded P150,000 as ransom.

His family appealed that they could not raise the amount and after negotiations, the bandits agreed to lower the ransom to P50,000.

Chavez claimed he was kept in a hut by himself guarded by the gunmen before he was released.

“And then, (to my surprise) they told me to go home,” Chavez said, stressing that he was not aware that a ransom had already been paid by his family.

Capt. Neil Estrella, spokesman of Task Force Trillium, the joint police-military unit going after the kidnappers, said additional troops have been deployed to track down the gunmen and their remaining hostages under the directive of Vice Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul, chairman of the provincial crisis committee.

Sakalahul, for his part, said the latest information revealed the Sri Lankan hostage is teaching the gunmen Arabic language.

“We are not really sure of his (Jaleel) status except that he was monitored teaching Arabic to a group of his captors,” he said. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Sheila Laude