Philippine police free seven accused of Abu Sayyaf collusion

A security guard and a policeman keep watch at their post Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at a wharf in the capital town of Jolo in the southern Philippine province of Sulu where Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya militants are holding two remaining Red Cross workers Swiss national Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni. Militants have freed Filipino aid worker Mary Jean Lacaba after more than 70 days in captivity, but the Abu Sayyaf threatened to behead the two hostages if Manila does not pull out security forces in Sulu. Provincial Governor Sakur Tan, who heads the government task force negotiating for the safe release of the hostages, rejected the terrorist demand. Tan has declared a state of emergency in Sulu. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 08, 2009) – Filipino authorities freed seven people accused of colluding with the Abu Sayyaf group holding captive two Red Cross workers in Sulu province.

The seven, three of them police officers and two village officials, were ordered released along with two other civilians on Wednesday for lack of evidence.

“I will bring them back in Sulu,” said Sulu Governor Sakur Tan told the Mindanao Examiner.

The seven were arrested separately in Sulu province after police linked them to the Abu Sayyaf group blamed for the kidnapping of Swiss national Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni, who are working for the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The two were seized together with Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba on January 15 after inspecting on a humanitarian project at a prison in Patikul town.

The Abu Sayyaf freed Lacaba on April 2 on a remote village in Indanan town.

Tan declared a state of emergency in Sulu after an Abu Sayyaf deadline to behead the remaining hostages lapsed on March 31 without anyone killed.

An Abu Sayyaf spokesman, Albader Parad, has since then warned they would kill the captives if the government fails to pull out security forces surrounding their jungle hideout in Indanan town.

Philippine military intelligence reports said several Jemaah Islamiya terrorists are among those holding the aid workers, among them were Mauiya, Dulmatin, Zulkifli bin Hir and Umar Patek, who are all wanted by Indonesia for the spate of deadly attacks, including the Bali bombing in 2002. (Mindanao Examiner)