Palace: No to martial law in Basilan, Agusan

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has rejected the calls for martial law in Basilan and Agusan del Sur in response to the kidnapping of teachers, students and school officials, saying this is unnecessary.

Interviewed over Radyo ng Bayan, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the proposals, specifically the one coming from Basilan bishop Martin Jumoad, for the declaration of martial law in the province was taken up at the National Security Council meeting last Friday.

Remonde noted that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have already beefed up their presence in Basilan after two successive kidnappings in the province.

Unidentified armed men abducted Dr. Orlando Fajardo, vice president of Basilan State College, last Thursday along the coastal area of Lantawan.

Factory worker Marquez Singson, who was taken last Nov. 11, was beheaded.

Reacting to these incidents, Jumoad called for the imposition of martial law in Basilan, just like the President did in Maguindanao.

“We deliberated on the proposal of the bishop of Basilan to declare martial law in the area and we felt that it is not necessary,” Remonde said.

He said the military commander in Basilan has assured the government that the situation is under control and only asked for additional troops on the ground.

He added that a battalion will reinforce the troops and police personnel already deployed in the province.

In the case of Agusan del Sur where Manobo tribesmen kidnapped 75 schoolteachers and students last Thursday, Remonde said that just like Basilan, government troops are ready to increase their presence there if the local crisis management committee (CMC) makes a request.

He said the CMC is still in charge of the situation and the government is ready to do everything to ensure the safety of the hostages. He added that the soldiers and policemen are on standby for any necessary police or military action.

The tribesmen have already released some of the hostages, leaving only 46 still unaccounted for.

No proof of life

Meanwhile, the CMC confirmed that two kidnapped Chinese nationals, a young businessman and Dr. Fajardo, were being held by separate groups of kidnappers in the mountains of Basilan.

Basilan Vice Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul, CMC chairman, confirmed that businessman Donald John Capili is being kept in the areas of Al-Barka and Tipo-Tipo towns.

He said the confirmation of Capili’s wherabouts was discussed during Friday’s meeting with different government units.

Capili, 19, a scion of a known political clan, was abducted last Aug. 28 in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte.

Sakalahul said the Capili family had established contact and has made an appeal to the kidnappers led by a certain “Black Ninja,” that they are not moneyed people and could not afford to pay the initial ransom demand.

The kidnappers initially demanded P15-million ransom but changed it to another figure. They, however, dismissed the appeal, saying they had cased the victim for two months and have determined his background.

The CMC head said that the case of Capili is different from the kidnappings of the two Chinese nationals – Bo Shung Tan alias Michael Tan and Zi Shun – who were taken along with Filipino laborer Mark Singson last Nov. 10 in Maluso town.

Singson, however, was executed and his decapitated head was dropped in a public plaza in Isabela City last Wednesday after the victim’s employer failed to pay the initial P1.5-million “board and lodging” fee.

Sakalahul said the kidnappers of the two Chinese nationals have not relayed or sent “proof of life” or claimed responsibility.

“The kidnappers of the two Chinese nationals have not identified themselves. “We believed the kidnappers of the four hostages are different groups,” he said.

Sakalahul also clarified that they have not received any word yet from the group that took Fajardo.     – Roel Pareño