Sayyaf gives ransom deadline for co-op men

ZAMBOANGA CITY – An Abu Sayyaf faction has given the Basilan Electric Cooperative (Baselco) until Tuesday to pay ransom for its four kidnapped workers or it would increase the demand and “sacrifice” one of the hostages.

This developed as the Abu Sayyaf group led by Nur Hassan Jamiri and Puruji Indanama has closed its doors for Vice Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul to negotiate citing they will not negotiate to any politician.

The ultimatum was forwarded through a text message to Baselco manager Alfredo Oyao during the provincial crisis management committee meeting it convened Friday to exhaust measures in the recovery of the hostages.

Still held captives are brothers Alberto and Emilberto Singson, and Paul and Birin Herowig – service crew of Baselco.

The Abu Sayyaf, in its reported text message has given the Baselco management until Tuesday to comply with their P1-million ransom or it will increase the demand to P10-million.

“If demand will not be complied with, the Abu Sayyaf warned to sacrifice one of their hostages,” a source, who attended the crisis management meeting, said.

The militant group also rejected the offer of Sakalahul to pay P100,000 as “board and lodging” in exchange for the safe release of the victims and turned him down to negotiate.

The source said only four of the 10 leaders of the Abu Sayyaf agreed for Sakalahul to negotiate while the six others rejected him citing “they cannot trust politicians.”

The crisis management committee of Baselco had designated two new negotiators who are members of the Board of Directors of Baselco to convince the kidnappers to release their hostages.

Col. Rustico Guerrero, 1st Marine Brigade commander, who attended the crisis management meeting, said there was nothing definite with the reported warning of the Abu Sayyaf citing there was no direct contact from the group.

“There was nothing definite from the warning and reported increase of demand because there was no direct contact from the kidnappers,” Guerrero said.

He said the crisis management team instead assured the victims’ families of many options to secure the freedom of the hostages safely.

He said they are leaving the negotiators to exhaust all efforts in the recovery of the victims.