Sulu provincial photos show Philippine military chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang with Governor Totoh Tan during a public dialogue Friday, October 24, 2014.
SULU – Philippine military chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang has publicly apologized to the Sulu provincial government and other officials for not coordinating with the peace and order council in connection to the recent release of a pair of German yachters by the Abu Sayyaf.
General Catapang, accompanied by dozens of senior military officials led by Lieutenant General Rustico Guerrero and Rear Admiral Reynaldo Yoma, flew to Sulu on Friday and attended a public dialogue where he made the apology.
The dialogue was the offshoot of a meeting on October 20 by representatives of various civil society groups and different sectors with Sulu Governor Toto Tan, who heads the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and its ad hoc special action committee handling the hostage crisis.
The Abu Sayyaf told a radio station in Zamboanga City that it had freed Stefan Viktor Okonek, 71, and Henrike Diesen, 55, on October 17 in exchange for P250 million ransoms. The duo was heading to Sabah in Malaysia on a private yacht from a holiday in Palawan province when militants who were returning to the southern Philippines from a failed kidnapping in Sabah spotted the Germans and seized them on April 25.
The military insisted that no ransom was paid for the release of the hostages and even dared anyone to come up with evidence that ransom had been paid to the Abu Sayyaf.
Governor Tan said the PPOC and the crisis committee only learned about the release of the hostages after the media broke out the news. “We were not informed about that the hostages were already rescued and it was only through media reports that we became aware that they were rescued and (already) in the custody of the Armed Forces (of the Philippines),” he said.
“We would like to apologize to the people of Sulu for any shortcomings during the law enforcement operations in pursuit of the Abu Sayyaf group to retrieve the Germans and other hostages,” General Catapang said.
He also apologized for not immediately informing the PPOC and the crisis committee about the release of the German hostages and vowed to work closely with the civilian authorities.
Governor Tan praised General Catapang for his humility and sincerity when he apologized in front of a huge crowd. And Vice Governor Tan said that it was the first time that the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has apologized to the people of Sulu. “Umaasa kami na magiging maganda na ang sitwasyon (sa Sulu) sa mga darating na panahon,” he said.
Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin also quizzed General Catapang on the impression that the military is abetting the enemy when reports of ransom payment to the Abu Sayyaf broke out. General Catapang said their only focus is the safe rescue of the hostages not involving any ransom.
The German hostages were recovered by policemen in Patikul town, but were whisked away by soldiers and brought them to a military base in Jolo town and not even Mayor Hussin was informed about the release of the foreigners.
General Catapang said a cease-fire with the Abu Sayyaf is possible, but the militants must first release all their hostages. “That is possible, but they need to release all hostages first. Sayang ang buhay ng mga batang iyan. Pagtulungan nating sila ay magbago,” he said after a Muslim teacher asked him whether the military is open to a truce with the Abu Sayyaf group.
Mayor Amin suggested that Sulu province hold a peace and economic summit participated by officials both in local and national governments to tackle various issues and further unite development efforts here.
General Catapang, in demonstration of his commitment towards peace and progress, pledged to solicit development projects for Sulu. He even cited the marketing potential of sweet mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) and lanzones (Lansium domesticum) and other fruits in Sulu.
He also directed military commanders to work closely with local government officials in identifying problems in their communities and help them in development projects and other social interventions that will address directly the issues.
Vice Governor Tan said the provincial government is ready to work hand in hand with different organizations to sustain peace and progress in the province. “We will do our part by working closely with different organizations. We also believe that we can solve these problems by helping each other,” he said.
Another Abu Sayyaf faction is also holding a Malaysian fish breeder Chan Sai Chuin, 32, who was kidnapped along with a Filipino worker on June 16 this year from a fish farm in the town of Kunak in Tawau District. The militants are demanding 3 million ringgits (P41 million) for the safe release of the fish breeder. It is also holding captive a Malaysian policeman Kons Zakiah Aleip, 26, who was seized on June 12 also this year following a clash in Sabah that killed another policeman. The militants are demanding 5 million ringgits (P68.3 million).
The militants are still holding hostage a 64-year old Japanese treasure hunter Katayama Mamaito, who was kidnapped from Pangutaran Island in July 2010; and two European wildlife photographers Ewold Horn, 52, from Holland; and Lorenzo Vinciguerre, 47, from Switzerland, who were taken captive in the coastal village of Parangan in Panglima Sugala town in the southern Tawi-Tawi province in 2012. And several Filipinos kidnapped in other provinces and brought to Sulu.
The military said the militants are hiding in civilian communities and have moved their hostages from one hideout to another making it extremely difficult for security forces to track them down.
http://www.mindanaoexaminer.net/2014/10/philippine-military-chief-apologizes.html
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