PNP: Abu Sayyaf targeting Indonesians, Malaysians because they pay ransom

From CNN Philippines (Jun 25): PNP: Abu Sayyaf targeting Indonesians, Malaysians because they pay ransom



The police are still verifying the reported kidnapping of seven Indonesians off Sulu Sea. But the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group admits the Abu Sayyaf group is now targeting Indonesians and Malaysians.

The Abu Sayyaf group is now targeting Indonesian and Malaysian nationals because they are paying ransom to spare the lives of hostages, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

“Siguro malaki ang binibigay nitong mga napakawalan kaya umuulit,” Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo, director of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group, told CNN Philippines Friday.

[Translation: “I think the freed captives pay big so the Abu Sayyaf keeps on engaging in kidnapping activities.”]

The Abu Sayyaf group has kidnapped at least 18 Indonesians and Malaysians in three separate attacks early this year.

Watch: Indonesian foreign ministry confirms kidnapping

Also read: 4 Malaysians abducted off the waters between Tawi-tawi and Sabah

All of them were released after ransom demands were allegedly paid in exchange for their freedom.

Related: Abu Sayyaf frees 4 Malaysian captives in Sulu

Related: Abu Sayyaf releases 10 Indonesian hostages

Fajardo said the kidnappings would not end until ransom money is being paid.

The Indonesian government on Friday announced seven crew members of a tugboat were taken by suspected Abu Sayyaf members off Sulu Sea on Wednesday.



"We got confirmation of an incident of kidnapping involving Indonesian crew of a ship," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said. 

Marsudi said two different armed groups attacked the tugboat towing a coal-carrying barge and abducted seven of the 13 sailors on board.

The other six were freed by their captors, Marsudi said.

Sources told CNN Philippines the Abu Sayyaf is demanding 50 million ringgit or around P600 million in exchange for the freedom of the seven tugboat crew members.

Philippine authorities are still verifying the reported kidnapping incident. Fajardo said their counterparts from Indonesia have also contacted them.

“May report na. Parang apoy yan e. Kung may usok, ibig sabihin may apoy,” Fajardo said.

[Translation: “There’s a report already. It’s like fire. If there’s smoke, that means there’s fire.”]
“But again, we have to confirm,” Fajardo said.  

[Video report]

LGUs receiving ransom money

For now, the police are coordinating with other law enforcement agencies to verify the information.

“The local government plays a very important role kasi they know everyone in the area. Kasi taga doon ka e. And they know this Abu Sayyaf. So we need their help,” Fajardo said.

[Translation: “The local government plays a very important role because they know everyone in the area, because they live there.]

But Fajardo raised the alarm over intelligence reports that some local government officials have been getting portions of the ransom money paid to the Abu Sayyaf.

“Ang problema lang kung ang local government kasama na din ng Abu Sayyaf  at kumikita rin, hindi yan matitigil," he said.

[Translation: "The problem is if the local government is in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf and is also earning money, (the kidnapping) won't stop."]

He refused to identify who these local government officials are.

Also read: Philippine army urges no payments to free foreign captives

Joint maritime patrolling

Early this week, defense ministers of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia agreed to conduct joint maritime patrolling activities at their sea borders after a series of security threats in the area.

During the Trilateral Defense Meeting in Manila on Monday, the three defense ministers committed to be collectively responsible in addressing armed robbery and kidnapping at sea borders.

The ministers agreed to do the following:

• Coordinate activities among armed forces focusing on maritime security;
• Explore the possibility of establishing join military command posts at designated locations;
• Hold trilateral maritime and air patrol at areas of concern;
• Create a working group that would set operational directions on the conduct of trilateral patrol;
• Build a transit corridor within the maritime areas of common concern, which will serve as the designated sea lanes for vessels; and
• Engage in intelligence sharing.

In the meantime, the Indonesian government says it will continue barring coal shipment to the Philippines until the government can secure its waters.  Indonesian authorities have warned that piracy in the Sulu Sea, a major traffic lane, could reach levels previously seen in Somalia.

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/06/25/Abu-Sayyaf-target-Indonesians-Malaysians.html