Sayyaf frees one of five power co-op workers

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Abu Sayyaf freed one of five workers of the Basilan Electric Cooperative (Baselco) last Thursday, a day after they were snatched in Tuburan town, authorities said.

Elements of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) found Ronnie Tansiyung in Barangay Sinulatan, Tuburan town at around 7 p.m. Thursday, said Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar, Basilan police director.

The four remaining captives were identified as Alberto and Emilberto Singson, and Paul and Ian Helwig, who together with Tansiyung were seized while they were conducting meter reading and repair work in Barangay Sinulutan, Tuburan town.

There is talk that the kidnappers led by Nur Hassan Jamiri and Usi Hassin, who reportedly belongs to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, demanded ransom for the release of the Baselco workers. But the electric cooperative would not confirm this.

A local leader earlier said the kidnappers were the same ones who abducted Italian priest Fr. Giancarlo Bossi in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay on June 10 last year. Bossi was freed after 41 days in captivity.

Meanwhile, the mayors of Tuburan and Akbar towns were apprehensive on whether they should take the lead in negotiating the release of the four remaining captives following the fate of Indanan, Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son Haider who were implicated in the abduction of ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon, her crew and Muslim professor Octavio Dinampo.

“I have coordinated with the mayors of Tuburan and Akbar to probably take the lead in peaceful negotiations but they were apprehensive, citing what happened to the Isnajis,” Macapantar said.