Abu Sayyaf threatens to execute foreman in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group has threatened to execute a foreman and his brother-in-law if the victims' family would fail to produce P7 million.

This was revealed by Analiza Ligayan, wife of captive foreman Remegio Lingayan, as she seeks assistance from the local government for the safe release of her husband.

Lingayan, 50, and his brother-in-law Joselito Gonzales, working on a project of Sulu Vice Gov. Sakur Tan, were abducted last June 4 by seven gunmen in Barangay Timbangan, Indanan town in Sulu province.

Analiza said the kidnappers contacted them and told them to relay their P7-million demand to the local government. She, however, said that the kidnappers did not give them a deadline.

She said the kidnappers initially P20 million for the two captives and later lowered the demand to P7 million. She said that they have informed the kidnappers that they would not be able to raise the amount.

“We appealed that we cannot raise such a big amount of money because we are poor," Analiza said. “The kidnappers said they lowered the ransom to P7 million and they will harm my husband if we fail to produce the amount."

She said that they have started soliciting for money by putting up around the city several plastic gallons for donations. She said they have already collected P1,000.

Analiaza said the kidnappers have allowed her to talk to her husband. She said that according to her husband, the kidnappers are providing them food and they are staying in a hut and they are even provided with clothes.