Sayyaf frees remaining aid worker kidnapped in Southern Philippines

Freed kidnapped aid worker Millet Mendoza with Philippine Navy Captain Jeanne Lingan in Zamboanga City on Saturday, November 15, 2008.

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 15, 2008) – Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants have freed the last of two aid workers they kidnapped in Basilan island in the southern Philippines, officials said Saturday.

Philippine Marines chief General Mohamad Dolorfino said Millet Mendoza was released late Friday on a remote village in Basilan. “Kidnappers have freed Mendoza. She is okay,” Dolorfino told The Manila Times.

Mendoza was released in the town of Al-Barka, a stronghold of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It was unknown if Mendoza’s family paid ransom or not, but the kidnappers previously demanded P7 million in exchange for her freedom.

Mendoza was seized Sept. 15 along with Esperancita Hupida, program director of the Nagdilaab Foundation, which is active in humanitarian and development works in Basilan island.

Hupida was also freed Oct. 30 also in Al-Barka town after her family paid P2 million ransom.

Just last week, Abu Sayyaf militants have released a kidnapped Filipino nurse, Preciosa Feliciano, after four months in captivity in Basilan in exchange for P2 million ransoms.

Feliciano, 24, was freed November 7 in Tipo-Tipo town. She was kidnapped July 7 in Zamboanga City and brought to Basilan by boat.

Kidnappers are still holding a Joed Anthony Pilangga, a nursing student snatched on October 17 outside their house in Zamboanga City. Kidnappers have demanded P20 million from Pilangga's family.

The Abu Sayyaf also kidnapped nine people in recent months in Basilan and sent letters to Christians living on the island threatening them with harm if they do not embrace Islam. The letters were signed by Indama and Jamiri. (Mindanao Examiner)

Help us, kin of kidnapped victims appeal to President Gloria Arroyo

Families of kidnapped victims in the southern Philippines - couple Manuel and Edna Pilangga, and Ben Feliciano - show photographs of hostages at a news conference in Zamboanga City on Friday, Nov. 7, 2008. They appealed to President Gloria Arroyo to help secure the safe release of Filipino nurse Presciosa Feliciano and Joed Anthony Pilangga, a university student, who were both kidnapped in Zamboanga City this year; and aid worker Millet Mendoza, seized in Basilan island. Abu Sayyaf gunmen are believed holding all the victims in Basilan's hinterlands, and kidnappers demanded at least P32-million in exchange for their freedom. Another kidnapped aid worker Esperancita Hupida was freed last week in exchange for P2 million ransom. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 6, 2008) – Families of kidnapped victims on Friday appealed to President Gloria Arroyo to help secure the release of three hostages being held by Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Filipino province of Basilan.

Militants have demanded at least P32 million ransoms for the safe release of Preciosa Feliciano, Millet Mendoza and Joed Anthony Pilangga. A fourth victim, Esperancita Hupida, was freed October 30 after private negotiators allegedly paid P2 million.

“We appeal to Your Excellency’s urgent intervention, not only for the immediate release of the remaining captives, but to direct and provide all forms necessary support and assistance to the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Local Government Units, and the legal system and members of the civil society involved in trying to come up with short and long-term solutions to this social menace,” the victims’ kin said in their November 4 letter addressed to President Arroyo.

They said government authorities cannot seem to offer enough protection to citizens from lawless groups. “There is a sense of helplessness. No organized group is doing anything to prevent and address the issue of kidnapping. The captors are not brought to justice, and they continue their kidnapping operations. This problem of course relates with the broader conflict in Mindanao,” the kin said in a statement read during an emotional press conference here.

Feliciano, a nurse, was kidnapped July 7 in Zamboanga City and brought to Basilan island, where Abu Sayyaf gunmen are holding Mendoza, an aid worker seized in Tipo-Tipo town on September 15 along with Hupida, program director of the Nagdilaab Foundation.

Pilanga, a university student, was snatched on October 17 outside their house in Zamboanga City. Kidnappers have demanded P20 million from Pilangga’s family; P7 million for Mendoza’s freedom and P5 million ransom from the family of Feliciano.

Feliciano’s family said they had already paid P1.8 million to the kidnappers after selling their properties in Zamboanga City. “We have paid them already, but still they are holding my sister,” Ben Feliciano said.

The families of Pilangga and Mendoza said they cannot afford to pay ransom and have appealed to the kidnappers to free the hostages.

“There is a growing frustration and disappointment of the relatives and friends of the victims over the way authorities are dealing with the cases. There’s no public attention given since these victims are not well-known people. There’s no local initiative of crisis management team that is pursuing their release. The resolution of their cases is nowhere near,” the statement said.

Edna Pilangga, mother of one of the hostage, said the kidnapping has affected the family and appealed to the captors to free her son and the other victims. “Have pity on my son, have pity on us, please free him and the other victims,” she said, sobbing between words, as she appealed also to President Arroyo to look into the plight of the hostages. “Please help us President Arroyo.”

Joy Mendoza, sister of Millet Mendoza, also called on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is active in Basilan island, to help secure the freedom of the hostages.

“To the MILF, we are appealing to them to help us secure the safe release of the hostages. We know they can help us. We believe in your humanitarian side and goodwill. Development workers like Millet (Mendoza) look at you like brothers,” she said.

There was no immediate statement from Basilan Governor Jum Akbar, who has been spending much of her time in Manila.

The Abu Sayyaf also kidnapped nine people in recent months in Basilan and sent letters to Christians living on the island threatening them with harm if they do not embrace Islam. The letters were signed by Puruji Indama and Nur Hassan Jamiri, known leaders of the local Abu Sayyaf group on the island. (Mindanao Examiner)

ZABIDA, Nagdilaab Issue Statement Over Release Of Kidnapped Aid Worker In Basilan Island

STATEMENT OF THE ZAMBOANGA-ISABELA INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (ZABIDA) AND THE NAGDILAAB FOUNDATION, INC. (NFI) ON THE RELEASE OF NFI PROGRAM DIRECTOR ESPERENCITA "ESPIE" HUPIDA. NAGDILAAB Foundation, Inc.

Program Director Esperancita "Espie" Hupida was released at about 2:00 A.M. today, October 29, 2008 in the hinterlands of Tipo-Tipo Municipality, Basilan Province.

Ms. Hupida was abducted on September 15, 2008 in Tipo-Tipo along with Manila-based humanitarian worker Merlie "Milet" Mendoza, who remains in the hands of their captors.

ZABIDA and NFI are immensely relieved and happy over the release of heir colleague Hupida. We are glad to note that she is in good physical and emotional health; she reported that she did not suffer inordinately while in captivity.

With her release, we are enjoined to enter into and pursue a process and period of healing for her, her family, her fellow workers in NFI and ZABIDA and the local civil society and development communities.

The tremendous challenges of bringing development, human security and peace in Basilan Province and the immediate region do not afford us the luxury of despair and discouragement.

The kidnapping of Hupida, on the contrary, strengthens our resolve and vision to carry on the humanitarian work for the poor, neglected and suffering people. We remain apprehensive over the safety and well-being of Milet Mendoza as well as the two other kidnap victims still in the hands of the kidnappers.

These past and present kidnappings of defenseless civilians pose a serious and unequivocal challenge to our government authorities, local and national as well as civilian and military and religious, to finally bring to an end to this scourge and shame particularly inflicted in Basilan by unscrupulous residents of the province itself.

For as long as this threat remains, all of Basilan itself is held hostage by these bands of criminals, and as such there can be no peace and progress for the residents and those who come to their place with nothing but the best of intentions.

Finally, we thank very sincerely all the people who helped facilitate the release of Hupida, particularly Vice-Governor Al-Rashid Sakalahul and the members of the Provincial Crisis Committee.

May God bless us all.

REV. FR. ANGEL A. CALVO, CMF
President
NFI and ZABIDA

RICARDO LIMBAGA
Program Director
ZABIDA

DEDETH SUACITO
Executive Director
NFI

DR. GRACE J. REBOLLOS
President
Reach Out to Others Foundation

SR. EMMA DELGADO, OP
Executive Secretary
Peace Advocates Zamboanga

ELSA MANABAT
Executive Director
Katilingban Para Sa Kalambuan, Inc.

Sayyafs free one of two kidnapped aid worker in Southern Philippines

Abu Sayyaf militants freed on Thursday, October 30, 2008, one of two kidnapped aid workers, Esperancita Hupida, in the southern Philippine island of Basilan after 76 days in captivity. Hupida, the program director of the Nagdilaab Foundation, was brought to the Zamboanga Doctors Hospital in Zamboanga City. Militants are still holding Millet Mendoza in Basilan island, several nautical miles south of Zamboanga City. The Abu Sayyaf earlier demanded P7 million for the release of the hostages. Also shown in photos is Zamboanga Doctors Hospital nurse Vivian Dendiego who barred photographers from getting inside the hospital. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 30, 2008) – Abu Sayyaf militants freed Thursday one of two kidnapped aid workers after 45 days in captivity in Basilan island in the Muslim autonomous region in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Esperancita Hupida, program director of the multi-awarded Nagdilaab Foundation, was released on a remote village near Tipo-Tipo town before sunrise, but militants held on to Millet Mendoza, a freelance aid worker.

Both Hupida and Mendoza were among 7 people kidnapped Sept. 15 in Tipo-Tipo’s Kabangalan village. Five other aid workers from the Christian Children's Fund had either escaped or freed by the Abu Sayyaf.

Hupida was released to private negotiators and it was not immediately known how much ransom was paid to the Abu Sayyaf in exchange for her freedom. But the militants previously demanded P2 million for Hupida’s safe release.

“We don’t know whether ransom was paid or not, but we are monitoring the situation and is working closely with the provincial crisis management committee headed by Vice Gov. Al Rasheed Sakalahul,” Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani, the regional police chief, told the Mindanao Examiner.

Hupida was brought to Zamboanga City on a military boat early in the morning and attended a mass inside the naval base.

She was later brought to the Zamboanga Doctors Hospital for physical and medical examinations, but a nurse, Vivian Dendiego, prevented news photographers and journalists from getting inside the hospital.

The military had halted operations to rescue the hostages to pave way for a peaceful negotiation for their release. Mendoza was a former staff worker at the Office of Presidential Adviser to the Peace Process (OPAPP).

Father Angel Calvo, of the Peace Advocates Zamboanga, is also helping in securing the safe release of the remaining hostage. He said Hupida and Mendoza are community development workers who have been serving the Muslim areas in Basilan for many years now.

Different humanitarian and solidarity groups have condemned the kidnappings. The Christian Children's Fund and the Nagdilaab Foundation are both active in various peace and humanitarian projects in Basilan.

The military tagged the Abu Sayyaf group under Puruji Indama and Nur Hassan Jamiri as behind the kidnappings.

The Nagdilaab Foundation spun off the Isabela Foundation, which was organized many years ago by the Roman Catholic prelature of Basilan to provide community and humanitarian help to poor residents in the province.

The CCF, an international child-sponsorship group based in Virginia in the United States, has worked in the Philippines since 1954 and has been assisting more than 453,000 children and their families and contributed more than $7.8 million for community programs in the country.

The Abu Sayyaf also kidnapped nine people in recent months in Basilan and sent letters to Christians living on the island threatening them with harm if they do not embrace Islam. The letters were signed by Indama and Jamiri. (Mindanao Examiner)

2 Aid Workers Bihag Pa Rin Ng Mga Bandido Sa Basilan

BASILAN (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 5, 2008) – Wala pa rin balita sa dalawang aid workers na hawak ng mga bandido sa lalawigan ng Basilan, ngunit malakas ang ugong na marami ang sumasawsaw sa negosasyon upang makakuha ng malaking parte sa ransom.

Bihag mula noong nakaraang buwan ng Abu Sayyaf sina Esperancita Hupida at Millet Mendoza. Si Hupida ang program director ng Nagdilaab Foundation, samantalang si Mendoza naman ay isang social worker.

Maging ang dating alkalde ng Basilan na Hajarun Jamiri, na sabit diumano sa pambobomba noon ng Batasang Pambansa na ikinamatay ni Rep. Wahab Akbar, ay inulat na kasama sa negosasyon.

Isinabit rin noon ng mga awtoridad si Jamiri sa kidnapping ni Italian missionary Giancarlo Bossi, ngunit itinanggi ito ng dating pulitiko.

Umapela na rin noon si Father Angel Calvo, isang Catholic missionary at pinuno ng Peace Advocate Zamboanga, sa mga kidnappers na palayain ang mga inosenteng biktima.

Ayon kay Calvo ay pawang mga community development workers ang mga biktima at matagal ng tumutulong sa mga Muslim areas sa Basilan.

Nuong Agosto lamang ay ginawaran ang Nagdilaab Foundation ng Ateneo Peace Award sa Zamboanga City dahil sa magagandang mga proyekto nito para sa mga mamamayan sa pagsusulong ng kapayapaan sa Basilan, Sulu at Tawi-Tawi. (Mindanao Examiner)

Four Aid Workers Kidnapped In Southern Philippines

BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 15, 2008) – Four aid workers have been kidnapped Monday in the island of Basilan, a known stronghold of Moro rebels in the southern Philippines, police said.

Police identified the victims as Esperancita Hupida, Millet Mendoza, Ludy Borja Dekit and Dionisio Estandarte. Two others – Romeo Delos Reyes and Sahida Alasa – managed to escape from their captors.

They were in two vehicles when ten gunmen intercepted them before noontime near the Kabangalan village in Tipo-Tipo town, where Abu Sayyaf and Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels are actively operating, said Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar, the island’s police chief.

“Police and military forces are tracking down the hostages. We still do not know who were behind the latest kidnappings,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.

The victims were members of the Christian Children’s Fund and the Nagdilaab Foundation, which are both active in various humanitarian projects in Basilan, just several miles off Zamboanga City.

Police said one of the hostages, Esperancita Hupida, is the program director of the Nagdilaab Foundation.

Father Angel Calvo, a Catholic missionary and head of the Peace Advocate Zamboanga, appealed to kidnappers to free the hostages. He said the kidnappers are holding a fifth hostage, who was helping coordinate humanitarian projects in Basilan.

Calvo said the hostages are community development workers who have been serving the Muslim communities in Basilan for many years now.

He said the victims were on their way back to Isabela City from a meeting with town officials when the gunmen flagged down the vehicles.

The Nagdilaab Foundation was last month conferred the Ateneo Peace Award in Zamboanga City because of its dedicated leadership and unwavering involvement in the “Pantabangan Basulta,” a consortium of ten non-government organizations that engage and support local leaders and multisectoral constituents in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to develop sustainable interventions to promote peace and development in partnership with communities and stake-holders.

NFI spun off the Isabela Foundation, which was organized many years ago by the Roman Catholic prelature of Basilan to provide community and humanitarian help to poor residents in the province.

Suspected Abu Sayyaf also kidnapped nine people in recent months in Basilan and sent letters to Christians living on the island threatening them with harm if they do not embrace Islam.

The letters were signed by Puruji Indama and Nur Hassan Jamiri, both known leaders of the Abu Sayyaf group. (Mindanao Examiner)