Teodoro wants Sulu vice governor probed

MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro is requesting the Department of Justice to investigate Sulu Vice Gov. Nur-Ana “Lady Ann” Sahidulla after she admitted that she gave money to the Abu Sayyaf during negotiations for the release of Italian Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni in Indanan, Sulu last Sunday.

Teodoro said Sahidulla, as a public official, should explain her action because of the existing no ransom policy of the government.

“The vice governor is a public official and to aid or abet terrorists requires at the least an explanation. We would (like to know) what her justifications are and if this is an excuse under criminal (law), the revised penal code, is up to the DOJ to determine,” he said.

He said giving money to the Abu Sayyaf, which Sahidulla admitted publicly, has aided the group.

The vice governor had earlier admitted that she gave P50,000 to the group that turned over Vagni to her as a sign of “goodwill.”

“It came out from the mouth of the vice governor herself – allegedly she gave P50,000 for board and lodging or whatever you call it to the Abu Sayyaf,” he said.

Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, had earlier denounced Sahidulla for giving money to the Abu Sayyaf.

Gordon said that not even a single centavo should be given to the bandits in exchange for Vagni’s release.

Teodoro has also ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to look into allegations that Vagni was released in exchange for the release of the two wives of Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad.

Parad’s wives Rowena Aksan alias Honey and Nursima Anudden were apprehended, along with four other suspected Abu Sayyaf members, by the Marines at a checkpoint in Barangay Tagbak in Indanan, Sulu, barely three hours after the bombing incident in downtown Jolo that killed two people and wounded 40 others, including two policemen, last July 7.

Vagni was released later after almost six months in captivity by Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Parad.

Abu Sayyaf bandits kidnapped Vagni and two other International Committee of the Red Cross workers, Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba and Swiss Andreas Notter in Indanan, Sulu last Jan. 15. Lacaba and Notter were released on separate dates in April.

Vagni returned home to Italy last Wednesday together with his wife Kwan and two-year-old daughter Leticia.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, AFP spokesman, said that while the arrest of Parad’s wives helped convince the Abu Sayyaf leader to free Vagni, it was not the main reason for the release.

Brawner said contrary to speculations, the relentless operations against the group had also exerted pressure on them to release the last remaining hostage.

Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, chief of the Task Force Comet based in Jolo and the incoming Philippine Marine Commandant, denied that he approved the release of the two wives of Parad.

Sabban denied that he signed a waiver for the release of Aksan and Anudden.

Sabban, who attended the change of command ceremony at the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), evaded the media asking about the whereabouts of the two wives of Parad, who were allegedly released in exchange for the freedom of Vagni.

Sabban also told the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) that is investigating the case, to stop releasing information to the media.

“I told the CIDG to talk to me, not to the media. It’s not the proper forum. I did not sign anything, let them show me the document that I signed,” Sabban said.

Superintendent Edwin Diocos, chief of the 9th CIDG, said Task Force Comet has requested them to assist in the investigation and filing of charges of illegal possession of explosives against the wives of Parad.

Diocos said their participation was only limited to assisting in the investigation.

“We have no idea as to the custody. But what we learned (was) the prosecutor approved the waiver and the custody of the subjects,” Diocos said. – With Roel Pareño