Vice gov confirms P4-M ransom

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  â€” Basilan Vice Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul confirmed yesterday that the family of kidnapped Australian Warren Richard Rodwell paid P4 million in ransom for his release.

But Sakalahul denied allegations that the negotiating team, of which he was part, pocketed P3 million of the original P7-million ransom that the Abu Sayyaf demanded.

He said they were able to persuade the kidnappers to reduce the ransom to P4 million.

As this developed Rodwell, an ex-soldier, recounted how his kidnappers fired shots to stop him from escaping several times during his 15-month ordeal.

When he was finally released, Rodwell had to paddle a boat to a distant town and wade ashore through the mud to reach safety, said Inspector Eurem Macasil, the first policeman to meet him.

Rodwell, 54, was kidnapped from his home in Ipil town on Dec. 5, 2011.

Wharf supervisor Nathaniel Campos was the first person to spot the Australian as he waded ashore in darkness in the port city of Pagadian.

A surprised Campos asked the soaked and mud-splattered foreigner if he was a tourist.

“No, I’m not a tourist. I am a kidnap victim. Please help me!” Rodwell replied.

Campos took Rodwell to the nearby headquarters of the Pagadian maritime police, where Macasil offered him a cup of coffee.

Rodwell was so weak he could barely lift the cup to his lips, Macasil said.

He recounted to the police officer some of his experiences, like how his captors had transferred him from one small island to another to elude pursuit.

During his captivity, he was not shackled or caged but was always closely watched by his armed kidnappers.

“He said he had several opportunities to escape but was not successful. They would open fire and force him to stop,” said Macasil.

“He said he was worried after he heard in a conversation that there was an encounter and that they cut off someone’s head,” the police officer added.

Rodwell was in the southernmost island group of Tawi-Tawi, near the maritime border with Malaysia, when the gunmen took him by boat to Pagadian for his release.

The gunmen left him in a rowboat off Pagadian and told him to paddle to safety. But when he reached the shore, the tide was out so he was forced to wade through the mud.

Rodwell was later picked up by Philippine and Australian authorities, who flew him to Zamboanga, where he is receiving medical attention at a military base.

Sakalahul said the money came from the family and wife of Rodwell, Miraflor Gutang, who sold their properties to raise the ransom, as the Philippine government has a strict no ransom policy.

Australian embassy spokesman Andrew Byrne also said yesterday that his government has a policy of not paying ransom.

“We can’t blame the family because I believe that was the only way we could hasten the release of Rodwell,” Sakalahul said.

Prior to his participation in the negotiation, Sakalahul said he had distanced himself from the case to avoid being accused again of skimming part of the ransom money.

However, the thought of helping a fellowman prevailed over him.

He said Rodwell’s wife, accompanied by an anti-kidnapping group, met him in a hotel in Zamboanga City and sought his assistance in ending the kidnapping crisis.

Sakalahul denied allegations he took part of the ransom and challenged Miraflor and the anti-kidnapping group official, who were with him all throughout the negotiations, to speak the truth.

Yesterday, Miraflor defended Sakalahul and confirmed that only P4-million was paid to the kidnappers. She said the money came from their savings, and Rodwell’s properties which she sold to raise the ransom.

Miraflor, who met selected newsmen in a local hotel, said she personally approached Sakalahul to help her. She said she had learned that the official had helped in previous kidnapping cases.

“That P7 million was the first demand of the kidnappers. But I told them I don’t have that amount except for the P4 million, which I managed to save during the past months. And they agreed to that,” she said in Filipino.

She said during their negotiation, the kidnapper only identified himself as a certain Hadji and was frequently changing cellphone numbers.

On Feb. 17 she was allowed to talk with her husband, the first and last talk she did so.

“He told me his situation was very difficult and he was always hungry, and the place was very cold. We talked for 12 minutes.”

Miraflor said at some points during their conversation, her husband almost wanted to give up.

“He said he’s hopeless because he believed no one would help him. I assured him I would help him. He asked me where I would get the money and I told him that was not important as long as he is alive, that life is more important than money,” she said.

She said the kidnappers wanted her to personally deliver the money but she refused, citing security reasons.

The money, wrapped in plastic and placed inside a black bag, was delivered by Sakalahul and Miraflor’s brother Roger to the kidnappers.

She said when her husband was not released last Thursday, she thought she was duped into paying the ransom.

“The ransom came from my husband’s own sweat and blood. There was no involvement whatever from the Australian embassy. They did not help because they don’t want to get involved, right?” she said, adding Rodwell’s family did not give their share in the ransom because they were also poor.

Rodwell confined at US camp

Miraflor said she has yet to see her husband, who remains isolated inside a clinic of the US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P).

“I want to see him and talk to him. But no visitor yet is allowed as per advise by the Australian embassy as he is given time to rest. He cannot talk yet because he has oxygen in his mouth due to complications. I understand that but I want to see him,” she said.

Miraflor said her husband lost so much weight, and promised she would take care of him. She said she has no idea yet as to when Rodwell would be flown to Manila and to Australia.

Palace no idea on ransom payment

Malacañang has no idea whether P7 million or P4 million was paid for Rodwell’s release.

“We have no information nor confirmation on that alleged ransom that was paid,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during her regular weekend interview over state-run dzRB yesterday.

The Palace official issued the statement following reports, some coming from Sydney-based media, that the government paid $97,750 to Rowell’s captors.

But Valte still maintained the government’s policy of not paying any ransom for victims of kidnapping, which remains in effect and “has not changed.”

 â€“ With Delon Porcalla, Alexis Romero