Guard, negotiator. Mujapar Sawadjaan alias
Long Hair, left, was one of the guards of
kidnapped Germans Stefan Viktor and Henrike
Dielen. Next to him is one of the military
officials who negotiated with the Abu
Sayyaf for the Germans’ release
The Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) on Thursday filed kidnapping charges against members of the Abu Sayyaf Group who abducted the two Germans who were later freed in Patikul, Sulu.
Police officials released the photos they identified as the ASG members, including the leader of the team that kidnapped Stefan Viktor, 71, a doctor, and Henrike Dielen, 55, off Palawan waters.
Senior Supt. Roberto Fajardo, director of the PNP-Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) said that kidnap for ransom charges had been filed against the group on Oct. 29 against Muamar Askali, also known as Abu Rami and Amir, Roger Saji, alias Abu Janna and a certain SOB.
The ASG members were positively identified by Okonek and Diesen, 55, during a debriefing shortly after their release.
Fajardo said the Germans pointed to Abu Rami, alias Amir of the Abu Sayyaf as the leader of the grouop.
Also included in the charge sheet were Mundi Sawadjaan, Mujapar Sawadjaan, alias Long Hair, Yusuf Jalmaan, and several other John Does.
Fajardo said that the filing of the criminal case is part of the legal offensives against the Abu Sayyaf group as ordered by PNP Director General Alan Purisima.
“The chief PNP ordered legal offensive, so we filed the case last October 29 before the Department of Justice,” said Fajardo.
“We are hoping that we can get warrants of arrest immediately so that we can furnish copies of which to our operating units in Sulu,” he added.
Askali earlier released a video clip on social networking sites showing off the supposed P250 million ransom paid to the Abu Sayyaf in exchange for the release of Okonek and Diesen last Oct. 17.
“They are now boasting that they received th eransom. Even though there was no ransom, the mere fact that they (ASG) made demands, that’s already kidnap for ransom,” said Fajardo.
According to Fajardo, the PNP-AKG is still validating claims that a ransom was paid.
Even as the police had filed cases against the ASG, military forces continue to track down the bandits to free the nine remaining hostages, including the two European birdwatchers snatched in February 2012 in Tawi Tawi, and a Japanese.
Meanwhile, a news portal report said ASG members are reportedly buying weapons while their wives are buying up gold in Sulu province using the P250 million the group claims to have received in exchange for releasing their German hostages.
After the release of the Germans, Abu Rami had said that they already received the ransom “in full.”
The government and military denied the claim, but a video posted in facebook allegedly showed Abu Sayyaf members standing around stacks of money. The video has been removed since.
Armed Forces chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said he would investigate the existence of the video.
Meanwhile, an official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said any official can recommend an all-out war against the ASG after it attacked soldiers securing the construction of a circumferential road in Basilan.
MILF First Vice Chairman Ghazali Jaafar made the statement in reaction to a statement made by Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman recommending an all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf.
Jaafar said the decision to go all-out against the ASG would depend on the national government.
He added that the Milf cannot suggest an all-out war as it will only cause complications, since they are in the middle of discussing the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) which will pave the way for the creation of a new Bangsamoro political entity.
The MILF official added that what happened in Basilan was an isolated case.
Once the Bangsamoro is in place, Jaafar said the MILF will try to resolve the insurgency in Basilan with the help of the Bangsamoro police force.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/11/07/police-anti-kidnap-group-files-raps-vs-abu-sayyaf/
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