Aussie captive in Basilan, security officials confirm

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – Government security officials confirmed yesterday that an Australian national who was kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay is now being captive by rogue Moro rebels and Abu Sayyaf militants in Basilan.

Director Felicisimo Khu, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation for Western Mindanao, made the confirmation based on intelligence reports from the police and the military.

The victim, Warren Richard Rodwell, 56, who is married to Filipina Miraflor Gutang, was snatched last Dec. 5 from his house at Green Meadows Subdivision in Barangay Upper Pangi, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Col. Ricardo Visaya, commander of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade, also confirmed that Rodwell is now being kept in Basilan.

“Following the intelligence fusion of all the units of the police, Army, and Air Force, it was confirmed that Rodwell is now in Basilan,” Khu told newsmen.

Both officials could not pinpoint though Rodwell’s exact whereabouts, except that he is being kept by Barahama Alih, a former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander who has close ties with Abu Sayyaf leader Puruji Indama.

Alih, a close associate of slain rogue rebel leader Waning Abdusalam, was reportedly a former member of the local team monitoring the ceasefire between the military and the MILF but was expelled because of his participation in kidnappings.

According to Khu, Abdusalam’s two other associates – Ogis and Putot Jakaria – have reportedly merged with Alih.

Visaya said government troops are now on a search and rescue mission to safely recover Rodwell in Basilan.

Khu said there are no negotiations and the kidnappers have not yet contacted Rodwell’s family.

“There was an attempt to communicate,” he said.

Zamboanga Sibugay Gov. Rommel Jalosjos, meanwhile, denied that Rodwell’s captors had contacted him for possible negotiations.

“No one contacted me and I’m not contacting the kidnappers,” Jalosjos said.

However, Jalosjos said he is in constant coordination with the police, military and Australian security officials in their efforts to safely recover Rodwell.

He said he is also closely communicating with the captive’s family to determine if the kidnappers have established contact.