Gov’t aims to shut down Sulu ‘kidnapping industry'

From the Manila Bulletin (Apr 13): Gov’t aims to shut down Sulu ‘kidnapping industry’

Authorities have been meeting with local officials and cause-oriented groups based in Sulu to expand the intelligence and operational cooperation to erase its notorious tag as the kidnapping haven of the country.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz, Jr., commander of a police task force in-charge of ending kidnapping activities in Sulu, said officials down to the town and barangay levels, along with leaders of various groups in Sulu, have been attending a series of dialogues with the police and the military the  past weeks.

“During the meetings, it seems that they are seriously affected by the news describing Sulu as the favorite hideout of kidnappers and their victims,” Cruz told the Manila Bulletin by phone.

“They are determined to remove that tag because according to them, it does not sound right and fair and it is already affecting the image of Sulu especially for investors,” he added.

Cruz said they initiated the dialogue during his assumption of a new post last month.
It will be recalled that the national government had expressed alarm over kidnapping activities in Mindanao, in which most of the victims had been turned over to the Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), a bandit group linked to the al-Qaeda, “for safekeeping.”

The ASG, once in custody of the kidnap victims, also takes over the negotiation for ransom.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas went to Sulu early this year to preside a meeting with local officials to end kidnapping activities in the province.
Recently, a Chinese tourist and a Filipina resort worker were abducted in Sabah and were reportedly brought in Mindanao.

Local authorities would not confirm it although there were reports that it was the Abu Sayyaf which did it and that an $11-million ransom is being asked.

Cruz said part of the initial action plan is the identification of the sea routes of Abu Sayyaf and their cohorts in Sulu — meaning the usual area where kidnappers would land in the province to turn over their victims to Abu Sayyaf.

The three areas identified and confirmed by local officials and cause-oriented groups are the shorelines of Jolo, Indanan and Patikul towns.

“We have already deployed enough police forces in these areas purposely to deny them with both entry and exit points,” said Cruz.

The police forces, according to him, will be backed by Marine commandos.

The intelligence build-up, on the other hand, will be beefed up by local officials and other cause-oriented groups.

“We will continuously strengthen our partnership with the community because this will be an effective tool to finally end the kidnapping problem here in the province,” said Cruz.

 http://www.mb.com.ph/govt-aims-to-shut-down-sulu-kidnapping-industry/