Search underway for Arab reporter

Manila, Philippines -  Malacañang is closely monitoring developments in the search for the Jordanian broadcast journalist and his two Filipino crewmembers believed kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu.

“We are waiting for updates on the matter,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over state-run radio station dzRB yesterday.

Valte gave assurance that measures are underway to locate Jordanian television journalist Baker Atyani and his two Filipino cameramen, Ramelito Vela and Roland Letrico, of the Dubai-based Al Arabiya television network.

Atyani reportedly tried to interview the new leader of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, which the military claimed has about 400 followers.

“At this point, the efforts are being made to locate him (Atyani),” Valte said. “At present, the local government is handling this.”

Government security officials are still verifying reports that the three Al Arabiya crewmen were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu, a senior police officials said yesterday.

Police officials, however, clarified that the Jordanian and his crew were still considered missing until such time a ransom demand is made.

The police have tapped civilian volunteer organizations (CVOs), barangay police, and concerned residents to monitor the whereabouts of Atyani, 34, Vela and Letrico.

The trio arrived Monday in Jolo, Sulu and were reported missing after they met a group of still unidentified men for a supposed interview on Wednesday.

Police Director Manuel Barcena, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation (DIPO) Western Mindanao, said they have received unverified information that the three journalists are in the custody of Yasser Igasan, an Islamic spiritual leader who was recently designated as the Abu Sayyaf chieftain in Sulu.

“There are unconfirmed information and we are verifying it if indeed they are with the group of Yasser Igasan. But so far there is no report yet,” Barcena said.

“We have tapped the force multiplier in searching for the whereabouts of the foreign journalist and his two companions,” said Senior Superintendent Antonio Freyra, Sulu provincial police commander.

Security officials are also verifying reports that the Abu Sayyaf group under Commander Tahil Sali are holding the Al Arabiya crew in the jungles of Sulu.

Sali is the son of Usman Sali, former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) commander whose group was responsible for the massacre of Army troops, including Army Gen. Teodolfo Bautista, father of incumbent Army chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, in Busbus, Jolo in 1977.

Security sources on the ground bared yesterday that while there was no official confirmation yet on the whereabouts of Atyani, Vela and Letrico, they are now looking into reports that they were taken and are being guarded by Tahil’s henchmen headed by a certain Absara, an ex-barangay chairman of Kaunayan in Talipao.

Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, acting as chair of the provincial crisis management committee during the kidnapping incident of three officials of the International Committee Red Cross (ICRC) in 2009 in the province, has recommended the activation of the Civilian Emergency Forces (CEF) to act as force multiplier to cordon the Abu Sayyaf area and prevent them from escaping further.

The three ICRC officials were subsequently freed separately following negotiations.

Freyra said they still consider Atyani, Vale and Letrico as “missing” until a group comes out and claims holding them as hostages.

He said the police were also looking for the owner of the multicab that Atyani and his crew used to travel around Jolo.

Freyra said the television crew even coordinated with Jolo Mayor Hussein Amin to cover the Independence Day celebration last Tuesday in the town.

The trio were last seen leaving their hostel in Jolo last Tuesday in a white multicab headed in an unknown direction. With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Roel Pareño, Jaime Laude