Sayyaf frees principal

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Abu Sayyaf released a school principal without ransom Monday night in a village in Parang, Sulu, three days after seizing him, police said.

Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim, Sulu police director, said Pakkam Hasim was freed following the intervention of Muslim community elders and pressure from policemen pursuing his kidnappers.

This developed as another captive, Chinese businessman Peter Go, was seen with his Abu Sayyaf captors in Barangay Kuppung in Indanan, Sulu last Monday. He was kidnapped last Saturday in Jolo, the capital town.

Hasim was snatched by the men of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Gafur Jumdail last Friday.

He was released in Barangay Lanao Dakula, Parang town at around 7:15 p.m. Monday and was immediately brought to Camp Asturias in Jolo, where he underwent debriefing and a medical check-up.

“The victim mentioned no ransom was paid for his release. It seems he was abducted because his brother was in conflict with the gunmen,” Kasim said.

Meanwhile, police tracking forces failed to catch up with Parad’s men holding Go captive, as they were highly mobile, according to Kasim.

Before he was sighted in Indanan with his captors, Go was also seen in Parang, Hasim told authorities, quoting what he heard during his captivity.

Kasim said there were reports that Go’s kidnappers had relayed demands in exchange for his release.

But he said this information could not be confirmed.

“We cannot say yet the exact location of the kidnappers and (Go) because the group was very mobile,” he said.