The safe recovery of the three-year-old boy held captive by
the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was the result of the Focus Military Operations
(FMO) against the ASG in the province
of Sulu
Maj. Gen. Gerardo Barrientos Jr., Joint Task Force
Zambasulta commander, issued the statement Monday a day after Ace Jay Garban
was safely recovered in Sulu.
Barrientos, who is also the Army’s 1st Infantry Division
commander, said the Indanan-based ASG led by Radulan Sahiron released the child
to ease the pressure and divert the sustained FMO against them.
Barrientos said the Joint Task Group Sulu led by Brig. Gen.
Alan Arrojado are continuously pursuing the ASG leaders and members in the
municipalities of Parang and Indanan towns.
Garban was spotted “without a companion” by a concerned
citizen around 2:42 p.m. Sunday in Barangay Buanza, Indanan, Sulu.
The boy was turned over to the Jolo Internal Defense Force
(JIDF) headed by Col. Bernie Sun, who took him to a hospital in Camp Bautista
Sun, along with JIDF troops, brought the boy to this city
and reunited with his father Monday morning at Camp Gen. Arturo Enrile that
houses the Task Force Zambasulta headquarters in this city.
Fatima Caminan, protective services unit head of the Department
of Social Welfare Office (DSWDO) regional office, said the boy has to undergo
psycho-social intervention as he has been traumatized.
They observed that Garban no longer talks to other people
around him through his native tongue, the Visayan dialect, but was cleared of
any physical injury.
Brig. Gen. Demy Terjares, Joint Task Force Zambasulta deputy
commander, said the FMO will continue to neutralize the ASG that is still
holding captive seven people, including foreigners, in Sulu.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=854929
The military seeks to claim credit for the release of the boy captive. However, my best guess is that ransom was finally paid to the ASG and the boy was released. As one ASG thug once said "If you pay, you go."
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