Marines hunt 10 Abu Sayyaf members plotting kidnapping in Palawan

From InterAksyon (Jun 12): Marines hunt 10 Abu Sayyaf members plotting kidnapping in Palawan

Marines are hunting down at least 10 members of the Abu Sayyaf an intelligence report said had been sighted in southern Palawan and were planning to pull off a kidnapping.

The report has been confirmed by two ranking security officials, both speaking on condition of anonymity, who differed on whether the information should be made public.

“Yes, meron kami niyang intel report na ‘yan pero medyo ilang araw na ang nagdaan. Mas maganda kung ilabas na siguro ‘yan sa publiko (Yes, we have that intelligence report although it is days old. It is better if it is made public) to warn everybody, especially for the sake of local and foreign tourists na nandiyan sa (who are in) Palawan,” said one of the sources, a ranking military officer.

The second source worried that making the information public could “imperil the ongoing operations” even as he conceded: “Pero dahil nandiyan na ‘yan, wala na tayong magagawa (But since it’s there, there’s nothing we can do).”

The original information, forwarded in a text message, said: “Subj: ASG Kidnapping Plan – IRST MOL 10 Patikul/Talipao-based ASG mbrs led by AL AROD were sighted at Balabac, Palawan since 06 Jun 2014, Acdgly, they are planning to abduct unident businessman/businesswoman in d area. Said ASG mbrs will utilize black watercraft to transport their victim to Sulu province.”

However, Lieutenant General Roy Deveraturda, who heads the Puerto Princesa-based Western Command, refused to confirm or deny the information but assured they are on top of the situation in Palawan.

He likewise dismissed the reported Abu Sayyaf “intrusion” in Balabac, which lies off the southern tip of Palawan and is only some 50 kilometers from Sabah, Malaysia.

“Wala naman, normal situation sa Balabac area (There is none, the situation is normal in the Balabac are),” he said in a text message.

Palawan’s noted resorts have been targeted by the Abu Sayyaf in search of victims to kidnap for ransom.

Among the notable cases was the May 2001 kidnapping of 20 persons from the Dos Palmas Resort in Honday Bay, among them American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham and tourist Guillermo Sobero.

Sobero was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf on June 12 of the same year while Martin Burnham died during an assault to rescue the remaining hostages in July 2002.

On Wednesday, Army intelligence and police arrested key Abu Sayyaf leader Khair Mundos in Barangay San Isidro, Paranaque City.

Mundos, who carried a $500,000 bounty from the US government, is described as a bomb expert and spiritual leader of the Abu Sayyaf.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/88933/marines-hunt-10-abu-sayyaf-members-plotting-kidnapping-in-palawan