AFP forms own crisis team to monitor kidnap victims in Sulu and Basilan

From InterAksyon (Oct 15): AFP forms own crisis team to monitor kidnap victims in Sulu and Basilan

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. Tuesday said they have formed their own Crisis Management Team based at General Headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City to closely monitor the kidnap situations in Sulu and other areas of concern such as in Basilan.

"I ordered the creation of a Crisis Management Team here at the General Headquarters to monitor the situation, especially of the two Germans," Catapang told reporters during a news conference at Camp Aguinaldo.

Last weekend, Catapang visited Sulu to personally assess the situation on the ground after the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) holding the two German hostages threatened to behead them if their P250 million ransom demand would not be delivered by October 17.

Earlier, the military deployed more troops to Sulu including elite forces and an additional company of K-9 units to help track down the bandits and rescue the captives.

But Catapang admitted that they cannot just conduct rescue operations without a green light from the local Crisis Management Committee of Sulu led by either the governor or the vice governor.

The military said the bandits are holding at least 12 captives including five foreigners.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/97295/afp-forms-own-crisis-team-to-monitor-kidnap-victims-in-sulu-and-basilan