Kidnap For Ransom Continues To Thrive In Southern Philippines

From Bernama (Oct 27): Kidnap For Ransom Continues To Thrive In Southern Philippines

The release of two Germans by the Abu Sayyaf after a 250 million pesos (US$5.56 million) ransom was paid has reinforced the perception that kidnapping for ransom continues to be a thriving business in southern Philippines.

Stefan Viktor Okonek, 71, and Henrike Dielen, 55, had been held captive in the jungles of the island-province of Sulu about 960 km south of Manila after they were seized by Abu Sayyaf rebels in the Sulu seas in April, Xinhua news agency reports.

The government insisted that no state funds were used in paying the ransom on Oct 17, a claim affirmed by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III during an interview with foreign correspondents in Manila on Oct 22.

"You should ask the people who negotiated rather than me and in this particular case, the Germans were the ones who were negotiating," Aquino said.

A foreign wire agency quoted German government sources as saying that German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had sent a special envoy to the Philippines to negotiate a deal with the Abu Sayyaf militants.

Sources said the envoy, Ruediger Koenig, arrived in Manila a day before the Germans were released.

The official statement of the Philippine military said the release of the hostages was the result of "military pressure."

But mayor Hussin Amin of Jolo, capital of Sulu province, called for an investigation of the alleged involvement of Philippine officials in payment of the ransom money.

The payment was made public by Abu Rami, spokesperson of Abu Sayyaf who confirmed that the group had received the whole 250 million pesos "no more no less."

Rami said top Philippine government officials were among members of a team that delivered the money to the Abu Sayyaf in an undisclosed village in Patikul, a town in Sulu province.

Mayor Amin said despite denials of government officials including Aquino, it appears that the Abu Sayyaf had received the ransom money it had earlier demanded for the Germans' release.

"If indeed ransom was paid, the government is indirectly arming the Abu Sayyaf. These bandits can buy many firearms with the money and they can further endanger our lives. There has to be an investigation," he said.

Retired police chief inspector Antonio Clarito said the Abu Sayyaf can now buy some 1,250 pieces of high-end and state-of-the art weapons with the latest ransom money it received.

Aquino has admitted that the Abu Sayyaf is still holding at least 11 hostages who are "in reasonably good health based on intelligence reports."

The Abu Sayyaf, tagged as a terrorist group by the US and Philippine governments, claims it is fighting to establish an independent homeland in the Muslim-populated south of the mainly Catholic Philippines.

In July, a video appeared on YouTube where one of the Abu Sayyaf leaders, Isnilon Hapilon, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) militants who have taken control of large parts of Iraq and Syria.

But Philippine authorities have said that the Abu Sayyaf is mainly a criminal gang engaged in kidnappings for ransom and other lucrative illegal activities.

The group has kidnapped dozens of foreign aid workers, missionaries and tourists in the south.

And like the IS, the Abu Sayyaf is known for its brutal beheading of some of its captives including an American tourist seized in 2002.

Among hostages still being held by the Abu Sayyaf are two European birdwatchers, a Malaysian fish breeder and an elderly Japanese man.

Last year, the group released retired Australian soldier Warren Rodwell and Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani after ransoms were reportedly paid.

Local analysts have long wondered about why, despite its superior strength and resources, the Philippine military are still unable to defeat the Abu Sayyaf which is believed to have only a few hundred armed followers.
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