'Don't negotiate, run after the kidnappers'

ISABELA CITY, Basilan , Philippines  – Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar ordered the police and military to launch pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf holding captive three plywood workers, including two Chinese, as she rejected any attempt to negotiate with the kidnappers.

“I don’t like negotiation this time. I want hot pursuit operation to teach these criminals a lesson,” Akbar said citing the case of Mi-chael Tan, Oscar Lu, both Chinese; and Mark Singson.

The victims are all workers of the Hi-Tech Plywood Co., owned and operated by a certain Jorge Tan, based in Maluso town who were abducted last Nov. 10 while fast asleep in their quarters by 20 to 30 gunmen identified as members of the Abu Sayyaf under Commander Puruji Indama.

The order of Akbar came following reports from the military and police that the owner of the plywood firm is allegedly directly negotiating with the kidnappers.

She ordered the police to take pursuit operations to stop the plywood firm from allegedly negotiating.

Basilan Vice Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul confirmed that Tan has been receiving calls allegedly from the kidnappers.

Sakalahul, however, said it was not clear if the kidnappers have already made their demands even as the provincial crisis management committee (CMC) strictly ordered there would be no negotiation with the kidnappers.

Police Director Felizardo Serapio, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation (DIPO) Western Mindanao and Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao and Task Force Trillium met with Sakalahul and Tan in a closed door meeting to map out police action against the kidnappers of the three plywood workers.