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By Efren L. Danao Senior
Reporter
The Abu Sayyaf is again
conducting “fund-raising” activities, especially through
kidnap-for-ransom schemes, Sen. Rodolfo “Pong” Biazon warned on
Tuesday, a day after ABS-CBN news reporter Ces Oreña-Drilon was
reported to have been kidnapped in Sulu province.
Biazon, chairman of the Senate
Committee on National Defense, said the most vulnerable victims are
high-profile personalities whose employers could potentially pay
ransom demands.
“This [Drilon’s
disappearance] had been the mark of previous kidnapping incidents
perpetuated by the Abu Sayyaf,” he added. The Abu Sayyaf is a
Muslim extremist group that claims to be fighting for an independent
Islamic state in Mindanao in southern Philippines, which includes
Sulu. But the group is listed by the US State Department as a
foreign terrorist organization.
Biazon cited the kidnapping of 20
tourists in Dos Palmas, Palawan, and of Italian priest Giancarlo
Bossi.
“All of these Abu Sayyaf-related
incidents cost the lives of soldiers and civilians, complicated the
security operations of the military and the police and affected the
peace process in Mindanao,” he said.
Biazon pointed out that 14
Marines died, 10 of whom were beheaded, in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan
province, while attempting to rescue Bossi. Basilan is a supposed
stronghold of the Muslim extremist group.
Sen. Loren Legarda urged the
suspension of all military operations while Drilon remains unheard
from.
“A military operation will only
endanger her life,” she said.
Legarda cited the suspension of
military operations when she was negotiating for the release of
seven persons who had been kidnapped, including journalist Arlynn de
la Cruz.
She called on the media to
observe the news blackout requested by ABS-CBN, a radio and
television network, so negotiations with the suspected abductors
would not be troublesome. Legarda was a former news reporter for the
network.
Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. condemned
the abduction of Drilon, his first cousin. He pointed out that she
went to Sulu to provide an impartial and truthful report on the
developments and events in Sulu.
“The press is neutral and
sacrosanct and should not fall prey to any group or any interest,”
Revilla said.
He appealed to local officials,
religious leaders, peace advocates, the police and the military to
exert all peaceful efforts for the safe release of Drilon.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino
Pimentel Jr. said saving Drilon and her crew is paramount.
Gen. Alexander Yano, the Armed
Forces chief of staff, the commanding general of the Southern
Command, the local officials of Sulu and ulama leaders should come
up with a “workable solution” to the Drilon case, he added.
Pimentel said he was holding the
Abu Sayyaf responsible for Drilon’s disappearance.
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