‘Philippine villagers hiding hostages’

From the New Straits Times (Aug 26): ‘Philippine villagers hiding hostages’
 

KOTA KINABALU: Hostages are being kept out of sight of the Philippine armed forces by Abu Sayaff militants with the help of the local community in Indanan, Sulu.

This prevents the army from tracking down their whereabouts as intelligence indicates the militants and their captives are mobile.

Philippine Armed Forces Joint Task Group Sulu public affairs officer Captain Antonio Bulao told the New Straits Times the al-Qaeda-linked militants, who were responsible for beheading several hostages, were getting support from local residents because of blood ties.

“They (supporters) help to hide captives before the militants move them into the jungle.

“We are facing difficulties in locating the militants because of the terrain.

“They are well-versed with the terrain, which is mostly jungles and hills,” he said yesterday, adding that the army was combing several areas.

Last week, the security forces engaged in a gun battle with the militants after the armed forces stormed a Abu Sayyaf stronghold in Indanan, Jolo, to rescue 11 hostages after extremists beheaded the 12th captive.

The hostages included two Malaysians — Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, and Bernard Then Ted Fen, 39 — who had been held captive since they were kidnapped from Ocean King Seafood Restaurant in Sandakan on May 14.

During the gunfight, two coastguard personnel, who were kidnapped on May 4, escaped and were later rescued by the security forces.

Bulao said the militants were aware of the armed forces’ movements and their rescue mission, following tip-offs from relatives and supporters.

“However, the villagers have also been feeding information to us because they want this to end.

“That is how we know the captives were placed under the care of villagers.”  

In Kuala Lumpur, Then’s wife, Chan Wai See, said Abu Sayyaf members had threatened to behead her husband if the ransom was not paid.

Chan, who had spoken to her husband on Saturday, was quoted as saying that Then was next in line to be beheaded and pleaded with the government to save him.

She last spoke to the militants in June shortly before police advised her to switch off her handphone.

The recent call was made by the captors at 5pm after Chan switched on her phone following news of unrest in southern Philippines.

On Saturday, Sabah police commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said it would take time to rescue Thien and Then due to the huge ransom demand but said police were doing their best.

“We have been informed they are safe. We are in constant communication with the Philippine authority. Efforts to secure their release will take time as negotiation is taking place,” he said.

Soon after Thien and Then were kidnapped, kidnappers demanded RM30 million per person. The amount was reduced by 50 per cent.

http://www.nst.com.my/node/97850