KOTA KINABALU: Negotiations for the release of Marine Police Kons Zakiah Aleip have hit a snag with a dispute that nearly ended in a gunbattle in Jolo.
The quarrel over ransom money was between negotiators and the Abu Sayyaf terror group holding Zakiah Aleip hostage on the southern Philippines island.
Philippines intelligence sources in Jolo said the gunbattle was averted with the intervention of a Moro National Liberation Front senior leader identified as Tahir.
The argument broke out between Abu Sayyaf leader Al Habsi and the negotiators led by Marmi Sangkula, a former MNLF commander, more than a week ago over the amount of ransom money delivered to the kidnap group which has moved Zakiah to a plantation in the jungle hideout.
“This angered Al Habsi and his gunmen and they decided to grab Marmi and several other negotiators around the border of Indanan and Patikul municipalities in Jolo,” he added.
The gunmen even went to the coast to see if the boats which ferried one or two Malaysians who were dealing with Marmi Sangkula were still in the vicinity.
“Fortunately for the Malaysians they were already out of shooting range,” the source said.
The source said Al Habsi issued a five-day ultimatum for the delivery of the balance of 25mil Pesos (RM1.96mil) while keeping Marmi Sangkula and his team under guard.
Marmi Sangkula’s men from a neighbouring area wanted to retaliate, but Tahir pacified the feuding sides, and the negotiators were later released, they said.
Tension, however, remained high although Zakiah was reported to be safe as negotiations continue, the sources said.
When asked about the incident, southern Philippines anti-kidnapping activist Prof Octavio Dinompo said he was aware of the latest development but declined to give details.
“I expect the situation to become clearer in a week or so,” said Dinampo.
Zakiah, 25, and Kunak fish farm manager Chan Sai Chuin, 32, for whom ransoms of RM3mil have been demanded, are among 10 held hostage by Abu Sayyaf.
On Saturday, one of the foreign hostages, Swiss national Lorenzo Vinciguerra, 47, escaped from the Abu Sayyaf fighters during a gunbattle with the Philippine military.
A Dutch man Ewold Horn, 52, who was with Vinciguerra, was unable to run away as he was sick and was still held captive near Patikul.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/12/09/Move-to-free-hostage-hits-a-snag-Dispute-over-ransom-money-for-kidnapped-cop-nearly-ends-in-shootout/
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