P1-M bounty up for 2 kidnappers

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) offered yesterday a P500,000 reward each for the capture of two suspected Abu Sayyaf members who kidnapped ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Oreña-Drilon and her two cameramen and a university professor in Sulu.

Chief Superintendent Hadji Sukarno Ikbala Sr., director of the Philippine National Police Community Relations Group (PCRG), said the reward will be given to anybody who could provide information leading to the arrest of Sulayman Patta, alias Amah Ma’as and Abu Haris, and Walid alias Tuan Wals.

“Two more Abu Sayyaf members were identified to have been involved in the kidnapping of Ms. Ces Drilon and her crew,” said Ikbala. “Today, the reward of P500,000 each had been approved by the DILG for any information that will lead to the capture of the two.”

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said the identities of Patta and Walid were established after a police asset actually saw the two suspects with the group that has custody of Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Mindanao State University Prof. Octavio Dinampo in Sulu. The kidnappers earlier released ABS-CBN assistant cameraman Angelo Valderama.

Bartolome said the reward was offered to encourage local residents to help the authorities locate and rescue the victims.

In the Tausug dialect, Ikbala, who is a Muslim, called on the Muslim community in Mindanao to help the PNP and the local crisis management committee to locate and release the hostages.

“As a Muslim police officer, I urge Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan and Indanan Mayor Isnaji Alvarez to exercise their leadership and responsibility and explore all measures to bring about the immediate resolution of this case,” Ikbala said. “The full force of the PNP will be behind the efforts of the Peace and Order Councils under the governor and the mayor.”

“We are hopeful that Insha Allah, the crisis will be resolved peacefully without harm to anyone. The Crisis Committee is monitoring the situation closely. The negotiators are acting on their own capacity. If the negotiation is the only peaceful way out, we will give it a chance,” Ikbala added.

Ikbala said the PNP’s top priority is to ensure the safety of the hostages, who have been in captivity since June 8.

“We are concerned about their health, especially that they are not used to jungle environment. We are also initiating some security measures to prevent the situation from getting out of control. We appreciate the cooperation of the media and other sectors with the existing security measures being implemented in Sulu,” he added.

Ikbala said he made the call to all leaders of Sulu to exploit all avenues to cause the early release of all hostages.

“Kidnapping is not only against the law of man, but especially, it is against the laws of Islam religion. As contained in verse 11 of chapter Baqarah, ‘do not do mischief in the land.’ Truly Allah loves not the mischievous. Kidnapping is fawahish (bad deed) which will be punished with great chastisement in the hereafter.”

Bartolome said the PNP might be able to release today artist’s sketches of the suspects.

When asked about the deadline allegedly given by the captors, Bartolome said the PNP has taken cognizance of the reports but he refused to further elaborate. “We cannot disclose operational matters at this time,” he said.