Sayyaf kidnaps 4-year-old girl in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The kidnap-for-ransom group and rebel faction of the Abu Sayyaf struck anew and abducted Sunday night a four-year-old girl in Lamitan City, Basilan, according to security officials.

The latest kidnapping came barely four days when the kidnappers believed to have syndicated with the Abu Sayyaf and rogue rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) released Joed Anthony Pilanga after payment of ransom.

Authorities have yet to secure the safe release of a nine-year-old Nicole Raveche who also was abducted in Lamitan on Nov. 26.

Nick Castro, head security of Mayor Roderick Furigay, identified the latest kidnap victim as Andrea Cuevas Diman, a resident of Calle Visaya, Barangay Malinis.

Castro said the young girl was snatched about 8:20 p.m Sunday by two gunmen riding on a motorcycle Honda XRM in front of Datu Kalun triangle.

The suspects along with their young captive escaped towards the direction of Barangay Colonia on their way to Tuburan and Al-Barka, the area which most of the kidnap victims were held for weeks and release only in exchange for ransom.

Castro said there has been no word yet as to the ransom demand from the kidnappers in exchange for the girl’s release.

The abduction of Diman brought the number of young hostages in Basilan to two.

Basilan Vice Gov. Al-Rashid Sakalahul who was able to negotiate for the release of Pilanga last week revealed that Raveche was supposedly freed ahead of Pilanga.

However, the release of Raveche was messed up by a third party negotiator who alleged that the family of the nine-year-old victim has prepared P2 million payment. 

“That irresponsible man who called up the kidnappers bungled everything. We could have secured the release of the girl without huge money consideration,” a disgusted Sakalahul said.

Moreover, police and Marines in Sulu continue trapping the elusive Abu Sayyaf group holding a Chinese businessman hostage.

Sulu police provincial commander Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim said the Abu Sayyaf holding Xili Wu alias Peter Go have been changing places to evade pursuing police forces and Marines.

Kasim said the Abu Sayyaf led by Albader Parad and Gafur Jumdail have not relayed their demand yet for the release of the Chinese businessman who was abducted on Dec. 13 in downtown Jolo.