A convoy of military tanks and trucks transporting soldiers pass on a village Monday, June 16, 2008 in Sulu province in southern Philippines where Abu Sayyaf militants tied to al-Qaeda terror network are holding since June 8 an ABS-CBN television reporter Ces Drilon, her camera Jimmy Encarnacion and university professor Octavio Dinampo. Sulu Mayor Isnaji Alvarez, top, who is negotiating with the Abuy Sayyaf says the kidnappers set an ultimatum June 17 for P15 million they are demanding for the release of the hostages. Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, head of the local crisis management committee, talks to the media in Jolo town. Tan appeals to negotiators not to pay ransom to the Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 16, 2008) – Abu Sayyaf militants tied to al-Qaeda terror network have threatened to harm a kidnapped Philippine television news reporter, her cameraman and a university professor if their families fail to pay ransom.
Militants kidnapped Ces Drilon and Jimmy Encarnacion, who work for the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, and their guide Octavio Dinampo, of the Mindanao State University on June 8 in Maimbung town in Sulu province.
They were on their way to secretly interview a senior Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron, who has sent surrender feelers to authorities to lure journalists in Sulu.
One cameraman Angelo Valderama was freed on June 12 after negotiators allegedly paid P5 million ransom. The kidnappers, believed to be headed by Sahiron himself, gave an ultimatum until Tuesday for the families of the hostages to pay P15 million ransom.
"They threatened to harm the hostages if their demand is not met by noon on Tuesday," said Jun Alvarez, a son of Sulu mayor Isnaji Alvarez, who was selected by the kidnappers to negotiate for the freedom of the victims.
"I don't know what they will do with the hostages. Let us pray that nothing bad will happen to them," he told the Mindanao Examiner, adding, the kidnappers, angered by the slow progress of the talks with Drilon's family, have tied the hands of Encarnacion and Dinampo.
The elder Isnaji the family of Drilon is negotiating directly with the Abu Sayyaf and even promised to pay ransom to the kidnappers. "The kidnappers told me that the family would pay ransom and that is the basis of their ultimatum. The kidnappers are demanding P15 million," he said.
He said he spoke with Drilon on Monday morning and she appealed anew to fast track the negotiation for their release. "She was crying and appealed again to fast track the negotiations. She said the kidnappers have tied the hands of Encarnacion and Dinampo," Isnaji said.
The ABS-CBN, which rejected paying ransom to the kidnappers, reported that Drilon's family denied negotiating with the Abu Sayyaf.
Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, the head of the local crisis management committee, appealed to negotiators not to pay ransom to the Abu Sayyaf. "Paying ransom is not the solution to resolve this hostage crisis, but it will create us more troubles because the Abu Sayyaf can use the money to buy weapons and finance terrorism," he said.
Isnaji briefed Tan on the progress of the negotiations. Isnaji threatened to resign as negotiator if the victims' families continue to talk directly with the Abu Sayyaf for the safe release of the hostages.
"There should only be one negotiator and we cannot continue talking to the kidnappers if other people are also negotiating. So if this continues, I will resign as negotiator and leave everything to them," Isnaji said.
Military tanks and trucks transporting government soldiers were seen Monday in Jolo town. But it was unknown if they were preparing to mount a rescue operation.
On Sunday, soldiers fired about a dozen rounds of cannons toward the hinterlands of Sulu and the military it targeted the group of Sahiron and a leader of the Jemaah Islamiya, Umar Patek.
But at least 5 people were wounded in the shelling and more than a thousand villagers fled their homes in Indanan town for fear they would be hit by the indiscriminate attacks on the Abu Sayyaf.
Philippine authorities linked the Abu Sayyaf to both the al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya, blamed for the spate of terrorism in the southern Philippines. The demand for huge ransom has already lured many militants to join the group holding the hostages.
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 for the release of Valderama on top of ransom allegedly paid by private negotiators in Manila.
Sahidulla is helping Alvarez secure the freedom of the remaining hostages. She appealed to the kidnappers to free Drilon's group.
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 Philippine forces defeat the Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner)
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