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By Al Jacinto, Correspondent
The distinct sounds of the loud explosions from
howitzer cannons can be heard from the towns of Jolo, Patikul and
Indanan. The firing began at around 3 a.m.
At least one civilian was hurt in the shelling.
A 65-year-old woman was taken to the Sulu Provincial Hospital for
shrapnel wounds.
Military officials in the southern Philippines
have imposed a news blackout on the crisis. It was unknown if the
firing was a prelude to rescue the hostages, but President Gloria
Arroyo has ordered police and military forces to get back all the
hostages.
Militants are holding kidnapped ABS-CBN
television reporter Drilon, her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, and
university professor Octavio Dinampo. They were kidnapped on June 8
in Maimbung town while on their way to secretly meet with senior Abu
Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron.
Sahiron, a notorious terrorist, was included on
the most wanted list both of the Philippines and the United States
because of killings and kidnappings of foreigners and Filipinos.
Before Drilon and company were kidnapped, he had sent a letter to
the Department of Justice about surrendering. (See related
front-page story.)
One cameraman, Angelo Valderama, has already
been freed June 12 after negotiators headed by Indanan town Mayor
Isnaji Alvarez paid P100,000 to the kidnappers.
The Abu Sayyaf selected Isnaji to negotiate for
the release of the hostages. The kidnappers were demanding as much
as P50 million for the release of all the victims. There were
conflicting reports about the amount demanded by kidnappers, with
the lowest being P10 million.
Regardless of the amount, more militants have
reportedly joined the Abu Sayyaf group holding the hostages,
attracted by the possibility of getting a piece of the ransom.
Sources said the number of the Abu Sayyaf is expected to increase as
negotiations for the release of the hostages drag on.
Authorities fear that any ransom paid to the Abu
Sayyaf could be used to buy weapons and fund terrorism in southern
Philippines, where security forces have been also battling Muslim
and communist separatist rebels for the past four decades.
Alvarez admitted to have paid a few hundred
thousand pesos to the kidnappers with some of the money coming from
Sulu Deputy Gov. Nur Ana Sahidulla. He said the money was for
“board and lodging” of Valderama.
Sahidulla is helping Alvarez secure the freedom
of the remaining hostages. She appealed to the kidnappers to free
Drilon’s group. Gov. Sakur Tan, head of the local crisis
management committee, and families of the hostages, including ABS-CBN,
have earlier made a similar appeal.
Alvarez said the kidnappers were also
negotiating directly with Drilon’s family, but he did not give
details of the progress of the talks.
Washington listed the Abu Sayyaf as a foreign
terrorist organization and has offered rewards of up to $5 million
for the capture of its known leaders. US troops are deployed in Sulu
province since 2006 and assisting the Philippine military to defeat
the Abu Sayyaf.
Negotiations ongoing
The police chief of the Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Sunday said negotiations for the release
of the hostages were continuing.
Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao denied some
news reports saying communication between the abductors and the
negotiators has been cut off.
“There is still a line of communication on
both sides,” he said. “That’s all I can say.”
Abu Sayyaf is known for kidnapping Christians
and foreigners and holding them for ransom, and has beheaded some
people when their demands were not met.
Shelling ‘normal’
Armed Forces Western Command chief Nelson Allaga
confirmed that there was shelling in Indanan town early Sunday but
maintained that it was part of a regular campaign against
extremists.
“If we receive reports that there are Abu
Sayyaf in the area, then we will shell that place,” he explained.
When asked if the offensive was targeting the
group currently holding Drilon and company, Allaga said, “No.”
He added that there was also no complaint, meaning the group holding
the TV crew was not reported to be in the area shelled.
Police in charge
Malacañang reiterated that the Philippine
National Police (PNP) has been given the go-signal to do what it
believes is necessary to ensure the safe release of Drilon and her
crew, adding that the ongoing hot pursuit operation by the military
may be a separate development.
“The President instructed the PNP to take the
lead in securing the safe release of Ces Drilon and her cameraman.
The President is not micromanaging the situation, and we don’t
know how they [police] do it. The order is to work for their safe
release,” Palace Deputy Spokesman Anthony Golez said when asked if
the government preferred a military assault or negotiation with the
kidnappers.
-- With AFP, Jefferson Antiporda and Angelo S. Samonte
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