PALEMBANG, Sultan Kudarat, 15 February — The main negotiator for the release of the kidnapped South Korean and General Santos businessman said military operations were hampering the release of the hostages.
The emissary, who introduced himself as Mike Macmod, was sent by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front upon the request of the government to secure the release of Jae Keon-yoon and his business partner Carlos Belonio.
He went to Barangay Malisbong here to establish contact with the group of Commander Tigre, principal suspect in the Feb. 6 kidnapping.
Macmod was authorized by Ghazali Jaafar, MILF political affairs chief, and was named as negotiator for the release of Jae and Belonio after Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza sought the help of the rebel group.
Macmod and Tigre’s men met Tuesday afternoon and then in the evening, but he returned empty-handed.
The emissary returned to Malisbong on Wednesday and told mayor Labualas Samroud Mamansual of Palembang that he failed to penetrate the area for fear of being caught in the crossfire.
The military operation, launched by the 601st Brigade under Col. Pedrito Magsino, earlier captured one of the kidnappers.
Mamansual said at least 300 families were displaced as soldiers scoured the hinterlands of Palembang to locate and rescue the victims.
Most of the evacuees fled their homes Tuesday evening after a firefight erupted between soldiers and some 50 heavily armed men allegedly led by Tigre.
A military attack helicopter also dropped bombs on sitio Linikas, an identified stronghold of the kidnappers.
Molon Barangay Captain Abdulkarim Mosadi said more than 200 residents from his barangay left their home because of the encounter.
Mamansual said he ordered the social welfare office to assist the victims.
