Muslim Woman Injured In Military Shelling In Sulu

A policeman guards Sunday, June 15, 2008 the Jolo wharf in Sulu in the southern Philippines as a Philippine Navy ship anchors nearby. Locals continue their daily routine as if there is no hostage crisis in Sulu. Abu Sayyaf gunmen are still holding a kidnapped ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, including Professor Octavio Dinampo, of the Mindanao State University. Another cameraman Angelo Valderama was freed June 12 after negotiators paid several hundreds of thousands as "board and lodging" fees. The kidnappers are demanding money between P10 million to P50 million for the release of the hostages who were seized June 8 in Maimbung town while on their way to secretly interview a senior Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 15, 2008) – A Muslim grandmother was rushed to hospital on Sunday for shrapnel wounds after Philippine security forces fired about a dozen rounds of cannons in the hinterlands of Sulu province, where Abu Sayyaf militants are holding three people since last week.

The 65-year old woman was rushed to the Sulu Provincial Hospital in Jolo town by her relatives from Indanan town, where troops fired at least a dozen rounds of Howitzer cannons at dawn Sunday.

It was unknown if there were other victims aside from the old woman.

Military officials issued conflicting statements on why troops fired cannons despite ongoing negotiations for the release of ABS-CBN television reporter Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, including a university professor, Octavio Dinampo.

They were kidnapped June 8 in Maimbung town while on their way to secretly interview an Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron, who earlier sent surrender feelers. Sahiron’s group is believed holding the hostages.

The Abu Sayyaf freed on Thursday another cameraman Angelo Valderama after negotiators headed by Indanan town Mayor Isnaji Alvarez paid several hundreds of thousands of pesos as “board and lodging” fee.

Isnaji said he is worried the firing of cannons could endanger the lives of the hostages.

The firing began at around 3 a.m. and the sound of the loud explosions from Howitzer cannons can be heard from as far as Jolo, Patikul and Indanan towns.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.
More soldiers arrived Sunday in Sulu on board the Philippine Navy ship BRP Bacolod City.

Sahiron, a notorious terror man, is included on the most wanted lists both of the Philippines and the United States because of killings and kidnappings of foreigners and Filipinos.

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, but ABS-CBN said it will not pay ransom to the gang. Manila also said it will not pay ransom to secure the release of the hostages.

And more militants have reportedly joined the Abu Sayyaf group that is holding the hostages because of ransom. It 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 purchase weapons and fund terrorism in the southern Philippines, where security forces are also battling Muslim and communist separatist rebels the past four decades.

Alvarez said the kidnappers were also negotiating directly with Drilon's family, but he did not give details of the progress of the talks.

He said the kidnappers were getting restless over the failure of Drilon’s family to resolve the crisis. He said the captors gave an ultimatum until Tuesday for the victims’ families to secure the release of the hostages.

“We don’t know what they are up to and what they are asking from the family of Drilon, but they gave me an ultimatum until Tuesday to resolve this problem. The kidnappers wanted the family of Drilon to comply with their agreement,” Alvarez said without elaborating further.

Alvarez said he spoke to Drilon after her captors contacted him on his cell phone thrice on Saturday – one at 1.30 p.m. and then it was followed at 5 p.m. and the last at 9 p.m. – and the hostage appealed anew to fast track the negotiations for their release.

“Ces Drilon keeps on telling me to fast track the talks so they can come out safely,” Alvarez said, adding, Drilon’s family must closely coordinate with him in their negotiations. “I need to know what the family of Drilon promised to the kidnappers. All negotiations should pass through me,” he said.

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 defeats the Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner)