Sulu Vice Governor Abandoned By Mayors, Legislators Loses Critical Support Ahead Of 2010 Polls

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / November 8, 2009) – At least a dozen municipal mayors and eight provincial legislators have withdrawn their support to Sulu vice governor Nur Ana Sahidulla as a congressional candidate in next year’s polls.

Sahidulla is said to be eyeing the 2nd congressional district and was previously endorsed by some mayors, who are senior members of the ruling coalition Lakas-Kampi-Christian-Muslim Democrat parties.

Those who withdrew their support have sent a signed manifesto to President Gloria Arroyo who heads the coalition and was also furnished to Muslim autonomous regional governor Zaldy Ampatuan and Sulu governor Sakur Tan, both chairman of the Lakas-Kampi-Christian-Muslim Democrat parties.

A copy of the manifesto was sent to Arroyo’s Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who is the current president of the Lakas-Kampi-Christian-Muslim Democrat coalition.

“We, the undersigned, incumbent Provincial and Municipal Officials of Sulu, and representing the provincial party leadership and the vast majority of members of the Sulu Lakas-Kampi-CMD, after due consultations among ourselves, taking into account the higher interest of the party and the necessity for the party to be solidified and strengthened for the political debacle in 2010, do hereby withdraw our collective support and earlier endorsement for Vice-Governor Hajja Nur-Ana I. Sahidulla as the party standard-bearer for the 2nd Congressional District of Sulu, nor will we endorse her for any elective post in the coming elections.”

“The Provincial Party Hierarchy is in the process of selecting the best candidate to represent the Lakas-Kampi-CMD for the 2nd Congressional District seat who is truly representative of the ideals and principles of the party and will make representation to the National Party hierarchy on the matter in due time,” the manifesto reads.

The mayors who signed the manifesto were Hussin Amin, of the capital town of Jolo; Hussin Ahajan, of Indanan; Munib Estino, of Panglima Estino; Kabir Hayudini, of Patikul; Gafur Abdurajak, of Panamao; Nedra Burahan, of Panglima Tahil; Arthur Muksan, of Siaisi; Sitti Raya Tulawie, of Talipao; Hatta Berto, of Pandami; Riza Tingkahan, of Parang; Mansul Aradais, of Lugus; and Nurmina Burahan, of Pata town.

Sulu has 19 municipal mayors and 14 legislators and those who withdrew their support to Sahidulla represent 70 percent of the more than 200,000 votes in the province, one of five that made up the Muslim autonomous region, said Hector Buclao, a member of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan, who was among those who signed the manifesto.

The other legislators who also withdrew their support to the vice governor were Khalil Hajibin, Al-Khadar Loong, Al-Bakir Jikiri, Nurhata Salahuddin, Basaron Burahan, Bhydil Sarapuddin and Malcolm Tulawie.

Buclao said Sahidulla’s defection to Sulu Representative Munir Arbison, of the 2nd District, has triggered their withdrawal of support to the vice governor. “That is the reason. Sahidulla’s defection to Arbison’s camp will not be tolerated and loyalty is very important so we can continue what we pledged to our people – that is our service for the larger interest of the people and the party, the Lakas-Kampi-Christian-Muslim Democrat,” Buclao told the Mindanao Examiner before flying Sunday to Saudi Arabia for his annual pilgrimage.

He said Arbison is not allied with the majority of the mayors in Sulu.

On May 14, about 45.5 million Filipinos will be called to choose among 87,000 candidates vying for 17,000 national and local positions, which include the 250 House of Representatives seats and half of the 24 in the Senate. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sayyaf amnesty proposal demoralizes troops, cops in Southern Philippine

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 15, 2009) – A proposal to grant amnesty or open peace negotiations with the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group is causing a demoralization in the police and military in the southern Philippines.

Senator Richard Gordon has proposed to grant amnesty to the terrorist group after the recent release of kidnapped Italian aid worker Eugenio Vagni after six months in captivity in the southern island of Sulu.

Sulu deputy governor Nur Ana Sahidulla also said that Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad told her that they are open for talks on amnesty. The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for the spate of kidnappings-for-ransom and bombings in the Mindanao.

“We cannot afford to hold a peace talk to the Abu Sayyaf or worst allow they be granted amnesty. The Abu Sayyaf is a terrorist group that had killed not only policemen and soldiers, but innocent people as well.”

“There is growing demoralization now in the ranks of the military in Sulu and perhaps even in areas where soldiers are fighting the Abu Sayyaf,” said one government soldier, who spoke on condition that he would not be named.

Policemen in Sulu province also claimed the proposals to start peace talks or grant amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf has demoralized many of them.

“How many policemen were killed by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu? Our good provincial commander Julasirim Kasim was killed by the terrorists. They murdered innocent civilians, innocent Muslims. There must be no amnesty, not even peace talks. The Abu Sayyaf and their allies must also be killed so we may have peace in Sulu,” a policeman said.

Kasim was ambushed in May and killed along with were his brother and three other policemen.

Sulu Governor Sakur Tan has also opposed any amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf, saying, the government does not negotiate with terrorists. He blamed the Abu Sayyaf for the series of bomb attacks and kidnappings in Sulu.

“There should be no negotiations with terrorists. Terrorists must pay their crimes,” said Tan, who survived a road bombing in May blamed by the police and military to the Abu Sayyaf group.

Tan, backed by the government, has declared a state of emergency in Sulu to allow authorities to run after Abu Sayyaf supporters who are providing them refuge.

Philippine authorities said the Abu Sayyaf has links with the Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiya, who was also involved in the kidnapping of Vagni and two other Red Cross workers Swiss national Andreas Notter and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba in January in Sulu’s Patikul town.

Lawmakers also opposed the proposals, saying, it would go against the government’s policy of not negotiating with terrorists.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has rejected any amnesty with the Abu Sayyaf and ordered the military to pursue the terrorist group and its supporters.

The military said it will strictly follow the chain of command and that operations against the Abu Sayyaf will not cease. “The Armed Forces will strictly follow the chain of command. The operation against the Abu Sayyaf is continuing. We are focus in our mission and that is to fight terrorism,” Cacho said.

But Cacho admitted the proposed amnesty and peace talks with the Abu Sayyaf have become a big issue in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “It is a political issue. It is for the government to settle, but that’s a big issue in the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” she said.

Cacho said they have not received reports that troops were demoralized, but she was quick to say that the military respect the opinions of the soldiers. “Soldiers are entitled to their opinion and this should be respected,” she said.

Secretary Avelino Razon, the presidential peace adviser, also rejected amnesty proposal to the Abu Sayyaf, saying, it goes against the government’s policy of no-negotiations with terrorists.

It was unknown whether the proposed amnesty or peace talks with the Abu Sayyaf would affect US military assistance to the Philippines. Hundreds of US troops are deployed in the southern Philippines, including Sulu, and were helping the local military defeat the Abu Sayyaf since 2001.

The Abu Sayyaf is listed as a foreign terrorist organization by Washington.

Philippine authorities said several Jemaah Islamiya terrorists, among them 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, has joined the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

The US has offered at least $16 million rewards for their capture. (Mindanao Examiner)

Terrorists free Italian hostage in the Philippines

Freed Italian aid worker Eugenio Vagni at a military base Sunday, July 12, 2009 in Jolo town in Sulu province in southern Philippines. And after his arrival in Zamboanga City en route to Manila where his anxious family and friends are waiting. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Nickee Butlangan).

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 12, 2009) – Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya militants have freed Before dawn Sunday an Italian aid worker kidnapped in January in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, police said.

Police said Eugenio Vagni was released to Sulu deputy governor Nur Ana Sahidulla at around 1.15 a.m. near Parang town. Vagni, the last of three Red Cross workers kidnapped by the militants, was brought to a military hospital in Jolo town where doctors examiner the 62-year old aid worker.

It was unknown if ransom was paid for Vagni’s liberty, but the militants originally demanded as much as $2 million for his safe release. No other details were made available by the police and security officials did not give any statement.

ABS-CBN television, which quoted unnamed sources, reported that the military would swap two wives of an Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad for Vagni.

The two women, Rowena Aksan and Nursima Annudden, were arrested at a military checkpoint in Tagbak village in Indanan town on Tuesday along with four other militants Rabia Asiri, Marwina Salasain, Madrimar Bagadi and Midsfar Aksan. Soldiers also seized from them more than P300,000.

The six were also implicated in the kidnappings of Vagni and two other Red Cross workers, Swiss national Andreas Notter and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba.

Both Notter and Lacaba were freed separately in April by the Abu Sayyaf, but there were suspicions that ransoms were paid for their liberty. The Red Cross denied it paid ransoms.

The Abu Sayyaf had previously used ransoms collected from kidnappings to purchase weapons and finance terror attacks in Sulu and Mindanao.

Just barely two months after the Abu Sayyaf freed Lacaba and Notter, a series of bombings occurred in Mindanao that left scores of people dead and wounded. Authorities blamed the attacks to the Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiya.

It was not immediately known whether the supposed ransoms paid for the release of the aid workers were used to finance the bombings.

Military and police intelligence reports said several Jemaah Islamiya terrorists are among the Abu Sayyaf that kidnapped Vagni’s group - 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. The US has offered at least $16 million rewards for their capture.

The United States listed the Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaan Islamiya as foreign terrorist groups alongside with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

Philippine authorities said the Jemaah Islamiya terrorists fled to Mindanao where they sought refuge under the protection of the Abu Sayyaf and rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group. (Mindanao Examiner)

Release of Red Cross hostage praised

Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan and President Gloria Arroyo.

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 03, 2009) – Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan of the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao praised the local government of Sulu for the safe release of a Filipino Abu Sayyaf hostage Mary Jean Lacaba.

Lacaba was freed by the Abu Sayyaf late Thursday in the town of Indanan after more than 70 days in captivity. Two others are still being held captive – Swiss national Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni in Sulu’s jungle.

“I laud the LGU officials of Sulu, military and PNP for their efforts for the safe release of Lacaba,” Ampatuan said in a statement.

The Red Cross workers were kidnapped January 15 after they inspected a humanitarian project at a prison in Patikul town.

Ampatuan appealed to the Abu Sayyaf to release the remaining hostages. He also appealed for prayers for the safety of Notter and Vagni.

“I am appealing to all for more prayers for the safe release of the two remaining hostages still in the hands of the abductors,” he said.

Lacaba was released to Sulu Vice Governor Nur Anna Sahidulla, the government’s emissary to the Abu Sayyaf. The release of Lacaba came two days after Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, the head of the government task force negotiating for the freedom of the captives, declared a state of emergency in the province.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said Lacaba was freed because of the mounting military pressure and the campaign against terrorism after Tan’s declaration of the state of emergency.

Sulu is one of six provinces under the Muslim autonomous region. (Mindanao Examiner)

Photos of kidnapped ICRC staff surface in the Southern Philippines

Photos obtained by television giants GMA-7 and ABS-CBN show the three kidnapped ICRC staff Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba, left, and Sulu deputy governor, Lady Ann Sahidulla, second from left, Italian national Eugenio Vagni and Swiss Andreas Notter, right. (GMA-7 / ABS-CBN)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 28, 2009) – At least two photographs of three kidnapped Red Cross workers have surfaced on Wednesday in the southern Philippine island of Sulu, where the Abu Sayyaf is holding them captive the past two weeks.

The photographs showed Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba posing together with Sulu deputy governor Nur Anna Sahidulla.

The kidnappers reportedly wanted to talk to Sahidulla, but details of the meeting were not disclosed. The hostages said they are being treated well and were allowed by the kidnappers to use their cell phones and laptops.

Two of the photographs were obtained by rival television networks GMA-7 and ABS-CBN.

Former Moro rebel leader Nur Misuari has offered to held in negotiating with the Abu Sayyaf for the safe release of the hostages.

It said Misuari, former chieftain of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), is willing to help in the negotiations to free the hostages.

The three were kidnapped January 15 after inspecting water and sanitation project at a prison facility in the town of Patikul. Police linked a dismissed jail guard, Raden Abu, to the kidnapping and said he handed over the hostages to the Abu Sayyaf headed by Albader Parad and Abu Pula.

But reports said Misuari was asking for government permission to negotiate with the Abu Sayyaf after a mayor in Sulu, Isnaji Alvarez, of Indanan town, was charged last year with kidnapping when he helped negotiate the release of television reporter Ces Drilon and her two cameramen, including their guide.

Drilon was held by the Abu Sayyaf whom they sought to interview clandestinely in Sulu Island. They were freed weeks later after private negotiators reportedly paid P20 ransom.

It was unknown whether the Abu Sayyaf is willing to negotiate with the former rebel leader. But the Abu Sayyaf previously rejected Misuari, who was tapped in 2001 by Manila to negotiate for the release of 21 Asian and European holidaymakers kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan.

Filipino movie star, Robin Padilla, was also in Zamboanga City on Wednesday and had been reported also to be helping in the negotiation for the release of the hostages. Padilla previously negotiated with the Abu Sayyaf for the release of several students and teachers kidnapped in 2000 in Basilan Island. (Mindanao Examiner)

Huge Ransoms Lure Militants To Gang Holding Philippine News Crew, University Professor

Hainatul Dinampo, wife of Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo, one of three people being held by the Abu Sayyaf group tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya gestures as she is being interviewed by television reporters at the Sulu Provincial Capitol on Saturday, June 14, 2008. Abu Sayyaf militants are also holding ABS-CBN award winning reporter Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion since June 8 after they were kidnapped in Sulu's Maimbung town. The kidnappers demanded as much as P50 million ransoms. And below, Hainatul and her daughter, Fatima. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 14, 2008) – More than a dozen militants have reportedly joined the Abu Sayyaf group that is holding a kidnapped Philippine television news crew and a university professor in the southern island of Sulu.

Many of those who joined the kidnappers were lured by huge ransom the Abu Sayyaf is demanding in exchange for the release of a multi-awarded ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, including their guide, Professor Octavio Dinampo, of the Mindanao State University.

President Gloria Arroyo ordered police and military forces to recover the hostages safely.

They were kidnapped June 8 in Maimbung town while on their way to interview a senior militant leader Radulan Sahiron, who has allegedly sent surrender feelers.
Militants have freed late Thursday television cameraman Angelo Valderama in the village of Sinumaan in Talipao town.

Intelligence reports said many of those who joined the kidnappers were new and old members of the Abu Sayyaf group tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya. It said the number of the Abu Sayyaf is expected to increase more as negotiations for the release of the hostages drag on.

Sulu police chief, Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim said they also received reports that the number of gunmen holding Drilon’s group has increased. “We received reports that the number of armed men holding the hostages is increasing,” he told the Mindanao Examiner without further elaborating.

Military and police authorities fear any ransom paid to the Abu Sayyaf could be used to purchase weapons and fund terrorism campaign in the southern Philippines.

The kidnappers were reported to be demanding as much as P50 million, but ABS-CBN said it will not pay ransom to the Abu Sayyaf.

But Indanan town Mayor Isnaji Alvarez, who negotiated for the release of the cameraman, said he paid a few hundred thousand pesos to the kidnappers with some of the money coming from Sulu Deputy Gov. Nur Ana Sahidulla.

Alvarez said the money paid to the Abu Sayyaf was for “board and lodging” and not ransom.

"We are waiting for the kidnappers to call us so we can resume negotiations for the safe release of the hostages. We pray that this crisis will end soon," he said in a separate interview Saturday.

The Abu Sayyaf cut off all communication lines to the negotiators for a still unknown reason. But military sources said the kidnappers were constantly moving from one hideout to another to avoid detection.

But Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, commander of the regional police force, said the negotiations are continuing.

Sahidulla is helping Alvarez secure the freedom of the remaining hostages. She appealed to the kidnappers on Saturday to free Drilon’s group. “We appeal to you to free the innocent victims. You are not only giving our province and bad name, but the entire country as well,” she said.

Gov. Sakur Tan, head of the local crisis management committee, and families of the hostages, including the 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.

The kidnappers reportedly demanded ransom between P10 million to P50 million. And that P5 million was allegedly paid to the gang for Valderama's release, other sources said.

Media reports also said that P2 million was paid to the Abu Sayyaf, but Alvarez denied this and at the same time criticized Amilasan Amilbajar, an assistant of outgoing Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza, who was allegedly the source of the news.

Dureza has been named as new Press Secretary and former military chief Hermogenes Esperon will take over as new Peace adviser.

The kidnappers have selected Alvarez to negotiate for the release of the hostages. Alvarez is also one of seven candidates running for the regional governor in the Muslim autonomous region elections in August.

The wife of the kidnapped professor, Hainatul Dinampo, said she was able to speak with her husband on Wednesday and told her to watch over their ten children.

“My husband told me to be strong and take care of our children. I was crying as we speak briefly on the cell phone,” the woman told the Mindanao Examiner after meeting with Tan at the Provincial Capitol in Patikul town where she sought help for the release of the captives.

She said an emissary of Alvarez on Saturday delivered medicines for Dinampo, who is suffering from arthritis. She also appealed to the kidnappers to free all the remaining hostages.

“Please release them all. They are innocent and kind people,” Hainatul said, adding, the governor assured her the government is working for the release of the hostages.

She said the kidnappers were also demanding an unspecified amount of money from her for the freedom of Dinampo. “They are asking money alright, but we are poor,” she said.

Police identified the kidnappers Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad, Gafur Jumdail and Umbra Jumdail, also known as Dr. Abu.

Parad and Jumdail are notorious Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by Washington and Manila for terrorism and kidnappings-for-ransom. The two are also believed coddling Jemaah Islamiya bomber Dulmatin and Umar Patek, tagged as behind the 2002 deadly bombings in the resort island of Bali which killed more than 200 mostly Australian holidaymakers and in several attacks in Jakarta.

The Abu Sayyaf group was also tagged as behind the kidnapping early this year of Maria Rosalie Lao, 58, a rice trader in Jolo town. It was also behind the kidnappings of 21 people, mostly Asian and European tourists from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan in 2001 and three US citizens and more than dozen Filipinos in the posh Dos Palmas resort in the central Philippine island of Palawan.

Last year, the group kidnapped seven people in Sulu and beheaded them after their families failed to pay up ransom. The US has offered up to $5 million bounty and Manila as much as P10 million rewards for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Jumdail, for their capture – dead or alive. (Mindanao Examiner)