Kidnapped Indons now in Sulu?

From Malaya Business Insight (Mar 30): Kidnapped Indons now in Sulu?

THE 10 Indonesian crewmen of a tugboat hijacked off Tawi-Tawi over the weekend were reportedly brought by their captors to the island province of Sulu, a ranking military official said yesterday.

This is based on intelligence information which is still being verified, said Maj. Gen. Demy Tejares, deputy commander of Joint Task Force Zambasulta.

The information also showed the victims are in the hands of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Al Habsi Misaya, a sub-commander under Sulu-based senior Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron, Tejares said.

Tejares said the task force has directed troops in Sulu “to continue conducting pressure” on Sahiron’s group and to “confirm if the Indonesian crewmen were indeed brought to Sulu.”

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the tugboat, Brahma 12, was intercepted Saturday night by a “group” aboard a motorized banca. He said the tugboat came from Jakarta and on was on its way to Batangas.

A military source earlier said the tugboat was a Taiwanese vessel but it turned out that it is Indonesia-registered. The tugboat was found abandoned and later towed to the port of Tawi-Tawi in Languyan.

“The information that we have received indicates that a certain group did the abduction high at sea by the use of a motorized banca powered by three outboard motors…

However, we could not categorically say what group this is until we have enough information to confirm that this allegation is true,” said Padilla.

Asked if the kidnappers are Abu Sayyaf men, Padilla said, “We are still waiting for the ongoing verification and cross checking on the information coming in.”

A source said one of the victims has contacted the tugboat owner, apparently on orders of their captors, to say they are being held by the Abu Sayyaf. “They (kidnappers) are seeking a P50 million ransom for the victims,” he said.

“One of the kidnap victims made a call to the tugboat owner, using a (Taiwanese) line. The phone was apparently in the tugboat. We cannot ascertain why there was a Taiwanese line there,” he said.

Asked if the kidnappers were indeed demanding ransom, Padilla said: “We are waiting for the tugboat owner to coordinate with us because there is information that the owner was already contacted to pay ransom in exchange for the lives of the crewmen.”

On the amount being demanded, Padilla said: “We don’t know the exact amount and we are waiting for the (tugboat) owner to give us the information that we are looking for to substantiate or confirm initial reports.”

In Zamboanga Sibugay Monday, Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Esmael Pingli alias Tago Pingli was arrested by joint military and police forces.

Pingli is involved in a string of kidnapping incidents in the region and has arrest warrants for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, said Maj. Filemon Tan, spokesman of the military’s Western Mindanao Command.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/kidnapped-indons-now-sulu