JOLO, Philippines, 22 May 2005 — Amid criticisms of government inaction, the military commander for the southern Philippines yesterday ordered troops to rescue three kidnapped Indonesian seamen held by suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists.
Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza flew to Jolo Island and personally gave the order for troops to do their best to rescue the Indonesian seamen, who were taken hostage on March 30 by gunmen off Mataking Island near the Sabah border.
The hostages were crew members of the tugboat Bongagaya 91, owned by the Malaysian boat firm, Syarikat Pengangkutan Bonggaya. The vessels were returning to Sandakan in Sabah from East Kalimantan when the bandits attacked them.
“We are continuing our rescue operation to track down and rescue the three Indonesian nationals. We have intensified our search for the hostages and their captors,” General Braganza told reporters in the troubled island of Jolo yesterday.
Jakarta has asked the Philippine government to act swiftly on the safe recovery of the victims, Ahmad Resmiyadi, 32; Yamin Labaso, 26; and Erikson Hutagaol, 23.
The kidnappers have demanded three million ringgits ($789,600) in exchange for the safe release of the hostages. The gang said it would kill one of the hostage if ransom is not paid. The demand was sent Thursday to the Indonesian Consulate in Sabah.
The families of the hostages have appealed to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to secure the release of the sailors with help from Malaysian and the Philippine authorities.
“We feel that our loved ones have been neglected. We are worried that this kidnapping is not being highlighted by the media and as a result the Indonesian authorities are not serious in handling this matter,” Erikson’s brother Prulian said in Jakarta.
Malaysia’s Star newspaper reported that President Gloria Arroyo’s special representative Nur Jaafar said that the kidnappers were allegedly sighted about two weeks ago in Manubul island near Siasi in Jolo.
But Jolo police chief Suaibon Anuddin Jalad said there were no indications the hostages were taken to the island, about 950 km south of Manila.
“We have been searching for them, every islands and every corners of Jolo. Our police forces are out there tracking down the kidnappers and their hostages, so far we have not received reports that they are here in Jolo. There are no indications the kidnappers and the hostages are here,” he said.
Local marine commander Col. Juancho Sabban said they raided an Abu Sayyaf hideout on Manibul Island two weeks ago and recovered a speedboat, believed used in the kidnapping of the Indonesian sailors, and several automatic weapons, but made no arrest.
“The bandits were able to escape, but we have recovered their speedboat and several weapons,” Colonel Sabban said.
A Malaysian intelligence report said one of the hostage allegedly escaped from the Abu Sayyaf and that the others had died in captivity.
Philippine military reports said the hostages were believed taken to Jolo after weeks of hiding in Tawi-Tawi island.
General Braganza said he could not confirm the report. “We are collating intelligence reports, but right now we don’t know the fate of the hostages,” he said.
He also inspected troops and awarded gold cross medals to about two dozen members of the 3rd Marine Brigade responsible for the killing of ten Abu Sayyaf gunmen in fierce clashes last week in Jolo’s Patikul town.
Philippines authorities have identified the kidnappers as Ibni Hassan, Ben Sanu, Calvi Tandanan, Fernando Corrolo, Majit Kalinggalan, Hulti Jailani, Badong Moktadil and Abdul Ullong.
