Abus release 3 of 5 kidnapped aid workers

MANILA, Philippines – Three of the five aid volunteers kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan were released Monday evening, the military said.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said the bandits had agreed to release without ransom Ludivina Dekit, Romy de los Reyes and Jun Estandarte and left them in the town of Al-Barka.

The three victims were later turned over to Tipo-Tipo Mayor Tong Istarul.

The military is still searching for Esperanda Hupida and Milet Mendoza, the remaining two hostages kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in Barangay Cabangkalan in Tipo-Tipo.

The victims are members of the Christian Children’s Fund and Nagdilaab Foundation, an organization of volunteers involved in rural development projects and livelihood assistance in Basilan.

They were on their way back to Isabela City when Abu Sayyaf gunmen blocked their convoy of vehicles last Monday.

Seven other volunteers managed to escape and reported the incident to authorities.

The Catholic clergy led by Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, Cotabato Bishop Jose Colin Bagaloro and Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad appealed for the release of the two remaining hostages.

The kidnappers were forced to abandon the three victims due to pressure from pursuing government troops, said Col. Rustico Guerrero, commander of the 1st Marine brigade based in the province.

Guerrero identified the leader of the group as Furuji Indama and Nurhassam Jamiri.

Indama is wanted for the beheading of 10 Marines in Al Barka last year.

Marine officials confirmed through pictures shown to the aid workers who escaped that the abductors were Abu Sayyaf bandits operating in the area, Arevalo added.

Arevalo advised volunteer groups and private agencies engaged in humanitarian and development projects in Basilan to coordinate their movements with the police and military to prevent them from being kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf.

“They should coordinate with the military for their security, if escorts would not be necessary, at least we could provide for area security,” he said.

Arevalo said the victims apparently did not coordinate with the military or police unit stationed in the area.

Police, on the other hand, has arrested one of the Abu Sayyaf bandits involved in the beheading of the 10 Marines last year.

The suspect was identified as Abdulkab Balahim alias Abas, a member of Indama’s group.

Balahim was arrested over the weekend in his safehouse in Masuhud Drive, Barangay Talon-Talon by combined police and military intelligence operatives in Zamboanga City.

Arevalo said the arrest of Balahim, who carried a P500,000 bounty, would lead to justice for their fallen comrades and their respective families.

Balahim is among the Abu Sayyaf bandits under Indama who took part in beheading 10 Marines in Al Barka last year.

The beheaded Marines were part of a contingent searching for kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi who was released after a month in captivity.

The Abu Sayyaf has been crippled in recent years by US-backed military offensives, but the bandit group continues to be a threat in Basilan.

More than 300 Abu Sayyaf members remain in the island province, down from more than 1,000 during the height of the group’s activities in the early 2000s. The group has been blacklisted by Washington as a terrorist group for kidnappings, bombings and beheadings.

The kidnapping of the aid workers, according to Arevalo, indicates that there are still some groups in Mindanao that do not recognize or respect the observance of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. –With Roel Pareño, Jaime Laude, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan, AP