Military halts rescue operation for kidnapped Basilan co-op workers

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The police and marines halted rescue operations for four electric cooperative service crewmen held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf and faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Basilan, according to an official.

The operation came to a halt as the management of the Basilan Electric Cooperative (Baselco) made its appeal yesterday pending its last ditch effort to safely negotiate for the release of Alberto and Emilberto Singson, and Paul and Ian Helwig.

Basilan police provincial director Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar said the appeal was made by Baselco manager Alfredo Oyao during the emergency meeting with 1st Marine Brigade chief Col. Rustico Guerrero. But Macapantar could not say if the measures adopted by the Baselco management include the negotiation citing that the cooperative have reportedly received a demand letter from the Abu Sayyaf group under Nur Hassan Jamiri.

“They just say they are initiating peaceful effort to free the captives,” Macapantar said.

Macapantar said they have learned that the management received the letter from the Abu Sayyaf but it was not disclosed to them.

The victims, all workers of Baselco, were snatched by the militants at the village of Batu-babat, Tuburan while conducting meter reading and repair work on Thursday.

The kidnappers initially released Thursday night one of their five captives – Ronnie Tansiyung. It was not clear what prompted the kidnappers to free the captive.

Reports filtering that the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers led by Nur Hassan Jamiri and Usi Hassin, an alleged member of the MILF have reportedly demanded ransom for the release of the victims.

Jamiri’s group was tagged as responsible in the abduction on June 10 of Italian priest Fr. Giancarlo Bossi who was freed subsequently after 41 days allegedly following the payment of ransom.