1 of 2 suspected kidnappers killed in Basilan

MANILA, Philippines - Soldiers killed one of two suspected kidnappers who tried to ram their way through a military roadblock as they were trying to flee with their seven-year-old victim in Isabela City, Basilan yesterday.

Marine Brig. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, 1st Marine Brigade commander, said the dead suspect’s unidentified companion managed to escape but is believed to have been wounded in the firefight.

But Commodore Alexander Pama, Naval Forces Western Mindanao chief and head of the Task Force Trillium, said the other suspect was later arrested.

Rescued was Alson Porticos, son of a former Land Bank executive and a student of Isabela East Central Elementary School.

Reports showed the victim and his elder sister Shalinette were on their way to school at about 1 p.m. on a motorcycle driven by one Alejandro Porticos when flagged down by the armed suspects – also on a motorcycle – near their residence in Jessica Hills. It was not clear if Alejandro is related to the victim and his sister.

Sensing danger, the boy’s sister got off quickly and reported the incident to their father.

The suspects fled with Alson in the direction of Lamitan.

Guerrero said the kidnappers were able to slip past three military and police roadblocks before they were intercepted in Barangay Malo-ong, Lamitan City.

At the fourth roadblock, the suspects ignored the soldiers’ signal for them to stop and opened fire instead.

One of the suspects was wounded in the ensuing firefight while his companion managed to flee. The wounded suspect died before reaching Lamitan City hospital.

Yesterday’s abduction came less than a week after nine heavily armed men abducted a Sri Lankan peace volunteer last Friday, also in Lamitan.

No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction of 34-year-old Umar Jaleel, a member of a Geneva-based peace group.

Authorities blame Abu Sayyaf terrorists and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the spate of kidnappings in Mindanao.

Basilan Vice Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul said the suspects in yesterday’s botched kidnapping could be henchmen of the Abu Sayyaf.

“Because the Abu Sayyaf cannot operate on low ground they have this group of henchmen,” Sakalahul said.

Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, Western Mindanao Command chief, said the immediate rescue of the victim has proven the good coordination between the civilians and the authorities in the area.

“We will see to it that they (kidnappers) will be dealt with the full force of the law and that the captured suspect will be placed behind bars to send a strong message that there’s always an end to their sinister plot,” Allaga said.

Meanwhile, the MILF has warned Nur Misuari that he could lose whatever remaining credibility he has as chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) if he fails to negotiate the release of three kidnapped workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Misuari has been allowed by the national government to help negotiate the release of Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni, and their Filipino companion, Jean Lacaba, who were abducted Jan. 15 by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits near the Sulu provincial capitol in Jolo.

Muhammad Ameen, chair of the MILF secretariat, said Misuari’s failure to work out the release of the victims will be a “bigger news” than that of the captives getting either rescued or freed in whatever way by the Abu Sayyaf bandits now holding them captive.

“The real scoop could be your (possible) failure, not your success in your mission. Failure is not an option, we wish you success,” Ameen said in the MILF’s website, www.luwaran.net.

“Most if not all of those involved in kidnappings in Sulu and Basilan are sons, grandsons or relatives of former MNLF leaders or combatants who idolized Misuari for decades,” Ameen said.

“It does not matter who negotiates, as long as the result is the release of the captives. But the negotiation is rendered more colorful if the negotiator now used to be in the limelight for decades for leading a liberation movement to free the Moros from centuries of bondage and servitude,” Misuari was quoted by the MILF news website as saying.      – With John Unson