ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 22 Apr) - Kinondena ng mga ibat-ibang grupo ng mga Muslim at religious sector ang bandidong Abu Sayyaf dahil sa pagpugot nito ng ulo sa 7 bihag sa lalawigan ng Sulu.
Walang awang pinatay ng Abu Sayyaf ang mga inonsenteng biktima matapos na mabigo ang mga bandido na makakuha ng ransom.
Anim sa mga bihag ay pawang taga-Zamboanga City at nagta-trabaho umano sa construction firm ni Sulu Gov. Benjamin Loong. Ang isa naman ay mangingisda lamang. Lahat ay dinukot nuong Abril 15 sa bayan ng Parang.
Hinihinalang pinahirapan muna ng Abu Sayyaf ang mga bihag bago ito pinatay, ayon naman sa mga nakakita sa bangkay. Kahapon ay nakaluksa pa arin ang maraming mga kaanak at pamilya ng anim na trabahador sa Zamboanga City.
Nagbabanta naman ngayon ang mga residenteng Muslim sa Sulu na magsasagawa ng malaking rally upang i-protesta ang walang habas na pamamaslang ng Abu Sayyaf ng mga inosenteng sibilyan at maging mga Muslim sa lalawigan ay pinapatay rin.
Marami sa mga Muslim ay dismayado sa malalang peace and order situation sa Sulu at sinisisi ang kawalan ng governance sa lalawigan. Marami sa mga opisyal ng Sulu ay palaging nasa Zamboanga at Maynila at halos hindi makita sa kanilang mga tanggapan.
Maging si dating Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan ay dismayado rin sa naganap at sinisi nito ang diumano’y kawalan ang governance sa lalawigan at malalang peace and order situation doon.
“There is no governance(in Sulu) because many politicians who are supposed to stay in their office and do their duties as public servants stay in Zamboanga and travel to Manila for good time.”
“The peace and order condition is getting worse by the day and people are tired and sick of violence and killings and fighting. We need people who will really work hard and served the public well. Kailangan malapit ang komunidad sa mga leader upang mabatid ang problema.”
“Yun mga pinugutan ng ulo ay naghahanap buhay lamang, pero ang tanong ay bakit sila dinukot at bakit pinugutan ng ulo agad. Dapat nabuksan ang isang mapayapang negosasyon upang mailigtas ang buhay ng mga biktima,” ani Tan sa isang ambush interview ng mga mamamahayag sa Zamboanga City.
Sinabi naman ni Maj. Eugene Batara, ang spokesman ng Western Mindanao Command, na patuloy ang pagtugis ng military sa bandidong grupo. Ipinadala pa ng Abu Sayyaf ang mga ulo sa militar sa bayan ng Parang at Indanan.
“Our troops are pursuing the terrorists,” ani Batara sa pahayagang Mindanao Examiner.
Nauna umanong humingi ng limang milyong ransom ang Abu Sayyaf kay Loong ngunit tinangihan naman ito ng pulitiko. Ayon sa ibang ulat ay isang milyong piso bawat isa ang hiling ng Abu Sayyaf.
Nakilala naman ang anim sa pinugutan na sina Nonoy Ampoy, Loloy Teodoro, Roger Francisco, Toto Milas, Wilmer Santos at Dennis delos Reyes. Hindi agad nakilala ang ika-pitong biktima.
Patungo sa trabaho ang anim na biktima sakay ng isang dump truck ng sila’y harangin at dukutin sa bayan ng Parang ng Abu Sayyaf sa ilalim ni Albader Parad.
Ayon pa sa ibang ulat ay may dalawa pang bihag na sundalo ang Abu Sayyaf. Dinukot rin ang dalawa na diumano’y sakay ng isang jeep sa nasabing bayan, ngunit wala umanong balita ang militar ukol dito.
Bukod sa Abu Sayyaf ay patuloy rin ang labanan sa pagitan ng militar Moro National Liberation Front rebels sa Sulu at umabot na sa 24 ang mga nasawi at mahigit sa 100 ang sugatan mula pa nuong Abril 13.
Nagbabala rin si MNLF leader Habier Malik na may mga atake pang magaganap. Galit nag alit si Malik sa militar na inakusahan nitong nasa likod ng pagpatay sa mga rebelde sa ilang ulit na sagupaan.
Lumabag umano ang militar sa September 1996 peace agreement sa pagitan ng MNLF at pamahalaan. Iginigiit naman ng militar na kinukupkop ng MNLF ang Abu Sayyaf at Jemaah Islmiya bombers sa Sulu na itinanggi naman ni Malik. (Mindanao Examiner)
Showing posts with label Hostages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hostages. Show all posts
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Decapitated Bodies Of Sayyaf Hostages Arrive In Zamboanga City
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Al Jacinto / 21 Apr) – Relatives and families of slain Abu Sayyaf hostages grieved Saturday as bodies of the six construction workers arrived in Zamboanga City in crates.
The six, kidnapped on April 15 in Jolo island, were beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf after the island’s governor Benjamin Loong rejected a demand for ransom. The kidnappers, headed by Albader Parad, a notorious militant leader, reportedly sought as much as seven million pesos in exchange for lives of the six men seized in the town of Parang.
A fisherman, also kidnapped in Parang town, was also decapitated. Their heads were delivered to two military detachments in Jolo island on Thursday and their bodies, hands tied behind the back, had been recovered the next day.
The families of the victims blamed the government for its failure to save the lives of the hostages, who were all natives of Zamboanga City and workers of Loong.
“We cannot pay ransom money because of the government’s no-ransom policy,” Loong said. “We will give the families of the slain workers one hundred thousand pesos each to help them (in the funeral expenses).
A ferry transported the bodies from Jolo and a crane was used to unload the six crates in Zamboanga City, where dozens of grieving relatives were waiting.
“How could they do this thing? These people were innocent and only trying to make a descent living to feed their families. May Allah punish the Abu Sayyaf,” one man, Pedro Santos, who claimed to be a relative of the hostages, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Many Muslims in Jolo island condemned the killings. A former governor, Sakur Tan, blamed the worsening peace and order situation on the island and the habitual absences and travels to Manila of many politicians, instead of staying in Jolo.
“There is no governance (in Jolo island) because many politicians who are supposed to stay in their office and do their duties as public servants stay in Zamboanga and travel to Manila for good time.”
“The peace and order condition is getting worse by the day and people are tired and sick of violence and killings and fighting. We need people who will really work hard and served the public well,” Tan said in a separate interview.
The Philippine military also condemned the slaying of the hostages.
Juan San Diego, a retired soldier, who had served in Jolo island, criticized militant party list groups he claimed are allied with the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines.
“While every sector and civil groups are condemning the killings of these innocent people, the so-called progressive political groups, such as the Suara Bangsamoro, Bayan Muna, Karapatan, Kabataan, Anakpawis, Gabriela and their likes, remain silent about the atrocities of the Abu Sayyaf.”
“But they are quick to denounce the military and the government of all fabricated lies about human rights abuses and yet the Abu Sayyaf and other rebel groups continue their terror activities. These party list groups are really communists,” San Diego, a former army gunnery sergeant, said.
Washington listed the Abu Sayyaf as a foreign terrorist organization and offered as much as $5 million bounty for the capture of its known leaders. Manila also set aside P100 million reward for their capture dead or alive. (Mindanao Examiner)
The six, kidnapped on April 15 in Jolo island, were beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf after the island’s governor Benjamin Loong rejected a demand for ransom. The kidnappers, headed by Albader Parad, a notorious militant leader, reportedly sought as much as seven million pesos in exchange for lives of the six men seized in the town of Parang.
A fisherman, also kidnapped in Parang town, was also decapitated. Their heads were delivered to two military detachments in Jolo island on Thursday and their bodies, hands tied behind the back, had been recovered the next day.
The families of the victims blamed the government for its failure to save the lives of the hostages, who were all natives of Zamboanga City and workers of Loong.
“We cannot pay ransom money because of the government’s no-ransom policy,” Loong said. “We will give the families of the slain workers one hundred thousand pesos each to help them (in the funeral expenses).
A ferry transported the bodies from Jolo and a crane was used to unload the six crates in Zamboanga City, where dozens of grieving relatives were waiting.
“How could they do this thing? These people were innocent and only trying to make a descent living to feed their families. May Allah punish the Abu Sayyaf,” one man, Pedro Santos, who claimed to be a relative of the hostages, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Many Muslims in Jolo island condemned the killings. A former governor, Sakur Tan, blamed the worsening peace and order situation on the island and the habitual absences and travels to Manila of many politicians, instead of staying in Jolo.
“There is no governance (in Jolo island) because many politicians who are supposed to stay in their office and do their duties as public servants stay in Zamboanga and travel to Manila for good time.”
“The peace and order condition is getting worse by the day and people are tired and sick of violence and killings and fighting. We need people who will really work hard and served the public well,” Tan said in a separate interview.
The Philippine military also condemned the slaying of the hostages.
Juan San Diego, a retired soldier, who had served in Jolo island, criticized militant party list groups he claimed are allied with the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines.
“While every sector and civil groups are condemning the killings of these innocent people, the so-called progressive political groups, such as the Suara Bangsamoro, Bayan Muna, Karapatan, Kabataan, Anakpawis, Gabriela and their likes, remain silent about the atrocities of the Abu Sayyaf.”
“But they are quick to denounce the military and the government of all fabricated lies about human rights abuses and yet the Abu Sayyaf and other rebel groups continue their terror activities. These party list groups are really communists,” San Diego, a former army gunnery sergeant, said.
Washington listed the Abu Sayyaf as a foreign terrorist organization and offered as much as $5 million bounty for the capture of its known leaders. Manila also set aside P100 million reward for their capture dead or alive. (Mindanao Examiner)
Friday, April 20, 2007
Bodies Of Beheaded Sayyaf Hostages Recovered In Jolo Island
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 20 Apr) – Government soldiers have recovered Friday the decapitated bodies of seven people kidnapped by the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in the southern Philippine island of Jolo.
Abu Sayyaf militants beheaded the hostages on Thursday after Benjamin Loong, the island’s governor rejected the group’s demand for P5 million ransoms.
The hostages, six of them construction workers and the seventh, a fisherman, were seized April 15 in Parang town. Their severed heads were sent to two military detachments on the island, said Maj. Eugene Batara, a regional army spokesman.
The kidnappers had demanded at least seven million pesos in exchange for the lives of the hostages. But Loong said the government has a strict no-ransom policy.
Six of those executed Nonoy Ampoy, Loloy Teodoro, Roger Francisco, Toto Milas, Wilmer Santos and Dennis delos Reyes were all working for Loong’s construction firm.
The bodies, hands bound behind the back and covered by banana leaves, were transported by a small truck to a morgue in Jolo town, where weeping relatives were waiting Friday.
“They killed my two cousins. They slaughtered them like a pig. They are all barbarians,” one man, whose two relatives were among those beheaded, said.
The victims were heading to work when militants kidnapped them. Police and military tagged the leader of the gang as Albader Parad, a notorious Abu Sayyaf commander, blamed for the spate of attacks against civilians and military targets in Jolo.
“This is how terrorism thrives. We condemn this barbarism. We will get the Abu Sayyaf,” Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, the Philippine military chief, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Others reports said two government soldiers traveling on a civilian jeep were also kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf at a checkpoint in Parang town, but the military said it has no information about the attack.
Security forces are also battling Moro National Liberation Front rebels on the island and the clashes left at least 21 soldiers and gunmen dead and more than 100 wounded since fighting began April 13.
MNLF leader Habier Malik warned of more attacks. “There will be more bloodshed. We are not afraid to die fighting the enemies,” he said.
Malik accused the military of violating the September 1996 peace agreement, saying, troops, pursuing the Abu Sayyaf, had killed MNLF members and innocent civilians in several armed encounters on the island.
He said had repeatedly soldiers encroached in MNLF areas, sparking sporadic clashes. The military also accused the MNLF of coddling the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya bombers in Jolo, a charged strongly denied by Malik.
Malik has declared a holy war against the military.
The MNLF rebels, under Chieftain Nur Misuari, signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government in September 1996. After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the accord, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.
Under the peace agreement, Manila would provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
Many MNLF members were disgruntled with the peace deal, saying, the Arroyo government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living. They accused Manila of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south.
And in November 2001, on the eve of the elections in the Muslim autonomous region, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed.
Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, but had been arrested and deported to the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)
Abu Sayyaf militants beheaded the hostages on Thursday after Benjamin Loong, the island’s governor rejected the group’s demand for P5 million ransoms.
The hostages, six of them construction workers and the seventh, a fisherman, were seized April 15 in Parang town. Their severed heads were sent to two military detachments on the island, said Maj. Eugene Batara, a regional army spokesman.
The kidnappers had demanded at least seven million pesos in exchange for the lives of the hostages. But Loong said the government has a strict no-ransom policy.
Six of those executed Nonoy Ampoy, Loloy Teodoro, Roger Francisco, Toto Milas, Wilmer Santos and Dennis delos Reyes were all working for Loong’s construction firm.
The bodies, hands bound behind the back and covered by banana leaves, were transported by a small truck to a morgue in Jolo town, where weeping relatives were waiting Friday.
“They killed my two cousins. They slaughtered them like a pig. They are all barbarians,” one man, whose two relatives were among those beheaded, said.
The victims were heading to work when militants kidnapped them. Police and military tagged the leader of the gang as Albader Parad, a notorious Abu Sayyaf commander, blamed for the spate of attacks against civilians and military targets in Jolo.
“This is how terrorism thrives. We condemn this barbarism. We will get the Abu Sayyaf,” Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, the Philippine military chief, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Others reports said two government soldiers traveling on a civilian jeep were also kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf at a checkpoint in Parang town, but the military said it has no information about the attack.
Security forces are also battling Moro National Liberation Front rebels on the island and the clashes left at least 21 soldiers and gunmen dead and more than 100 wounded since fighting began April 13.
MNLF leader Habier Malik warned of more attacks. “There will be more bloodshed. We are not afraid to die fighting the enemies,” he said.
Malik accused the military of violating the September 1996 peace agreement, saying, troops, pursuing the Abu Sayyaf, had killed MNLF members and innocent civilians in several armed encounters on the island.
He said had repeatedly soldiers encroached in MNLF areas, sparking sporadic clashes. The military also accused the MNLF of coddling the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya bombers in Jolo, a charged strongly denied by Malik.
Malik has declared a holy war against the military.
The MNLF rebels, under Chieftain Nur Misuari, signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government in September 1996. After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the accord, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.
Under the peace agreement, Manila would provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
Many MNLF members were disgruntled with the peace deal, saying, the Arroyo government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living. They accused Manila of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south.
And in November 2001, on the eve of the elections in the Muslim autonomous region, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed.
Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, but had been arrested and deported to the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
7 Sayyaf Hostages Beheaded In Southern Philippines
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 19 Apr) – Abu Sayyaf militants whose group is tied to al-Qaeda terror network, beheaded all seven of their civilian hostages in the troubled island of Jolo, about 950 km south of Manila, officials said Thursday.
The hostages, six of them construction workers and the remaining a fisherman, had been kidnapped April 15 in Parang town. Their severed heads were sent to a military post on the island, said Maj. Eugene Batara, a regional army spokesman.
“Our troops are pursuing the terrorists,” Batara told the Mindanao Examiner. He did not say whether the bodies had been recovered or not.
The Abu Sayyaf decapitated the hostages after the island’s governor, Benjamin Loong, rejected the group’s ransom demand. The kidnappers had demanded at least seven million pesos in exchange for the lives of the hostages.
Six of those executed Nonoy Ampoy, Loloy Teodoro, Roger Francisco, Toto Milas, Wilmer Santos and Dennis delos Reyes were all working for Loong’s construction firm, reports said.
The victims were heading to work when militants kidnapped them. Police and military tagged the leader of the gang as Albader Parad, a notorious Abu Sayyaf commander, blamed for the spate of attacks against civilians and military targets in Jolo.
Others reports said two government soldiers traveling on a civilian jeep were also kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf at a checkpoint in Parang town, but the military said it has no information about the attack.
Security forces are also battling Moro National Liberation Front rebels on the island and the clashes left at least 21 soldiers and gunmen dead and more than 100 wounded since fighting began April 13.
MNLF leader Habier Malik on Thursday warned of more attacks. “There will be more bloodshed. We are not afraid to die fighting the enemies,” he said.
Malik accused the military of violating the September 1996 peace agreement, saying, troops, pursuing the Abu Sayyaf, had killed MNLF members and innocent civilians in several armed encounters on the island.
He said had repeatedly soldiers encroached in MNLF areas, sparking sporadic clashes. The military also accused the MNLF of coddling the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya bombers in Jolo, a charged strongly denied by Malik.
Malik has declared a holy war against the military.
The MNLF rebels, under Chieftain Nur Misuari, signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government in September 1996. After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the accord, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.
Under the peace agreement, Manila would provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
Many MNLF members were disgruntled with the peace deal, saying, the Arroyo government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living. They accused Manila of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south.
And in November 2001, on the eve of the elections in the Muslim autonomous region, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed.
Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, but had been arrested and deported to the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)
The hostages, six of them construction workers and the remaining a fisherman, had been kidnapped April 15 in Parang town. Their severed heads were sent to a military post on the island, said Maj. Eugene Batara, a regional army spokesman.
“Our troops are pursuing the terrorists,” Batara told the Mindanao Examiner. He did not say whether the bodies had been recovered or not.
The Abu Sayyaf decapitated the hostages after the island’s governor, Benjamin Loong, rejected the group’s ransom demand. The kidnappers had demanded at least seven million pesos in exchange for the lives of the hostages.
Six of those executed Nonoy Ampoy, Loloy Teodoro, Roger Francisco, Toto Milas, Wilmer Santos and Dennis delos Reyes were all working for Loong’s construction firm, reports said.
The victims were heading to work when militants kidnapped them. Police and military tagged the leader of the gang as Albader Parad, a notorious Abu Sayyaf commander, blamed for the spate of attacks against civilians and military targets in Jolo.
Others reports said two government soldiers traveling on a civilian jeep were also kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf at a checkpoint in Parang town, but the military said it has no information about the attack.
Security forces are also battling Moro National Liberation Front rebels on the island and the clashes left at least 21 soldiers and gunmen dead and more than 100 wounded since fighting began April 13.
MNLF leader Habier Malik on Thursday warned of more attacks. “There will be more bloodshed. We are not afraid to die fighting the enemies,” he said.
Malik accused the military of violating the September 1996 peace agreement, saying, troops, pursuing the Abu Sayyaf, had killed MNLF members and innocent civilians in several armed encounters on the island.
He said had repeatedly soldiers encroached in MNLF areas, sparking sporadic clashes. The military also accused the MNLF of coddling the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya bombers in Jolo, a charged strongly denied by Malik.
Malik has declared a holy war against the military.
The MNLF rebels, under Chieftain Nur Misuari, signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government in September 1996. After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the accord, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.
Under the peace agreement, Manila would provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
Many MNLF members were disgruntled with the peace deal, saying, the Arroyo government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living. They accused Manila of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south.
And in November 2001, on the eve of the elections in the Muslim autonomous region, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed.
Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, but had been arrested and deported to the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
RP Planes Bomb Fleeing Insurgents In Troubled South
DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 11 Apr) – Government planes bombed Wednesday New People's Army rebels fleeing a military offensive in the southern Philippines.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, but OV-10 bombers pounded enemy positions after rebels released some 200 civilians they briefly held and used them as shield against pursuing soldiers in the outskirts of Panabo City in Davao del Norte province.
Officials said troops were pursuing a band of rebels behind a prison raid last week in Panabo City.
Chief Supt. Andres Caro, regional police chief, said the rebels have released their hostages and are now in government shelter in Panabo. "All the hostages are safe," he told the Mindanao Examiner.
"Philippine Air Force's OV-10 bombers have conducted a series of bombing attacks on the rebels who are reportedly hiding in the two hinterland villages," said Army Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, a regional military spokesman.
There was no immediate statement from rebel leaders about the fighting. The military and police blamed the NPA for the daring raid at the Davao penal farm where rebel, disguised as government troops, carted more than 100 assorted weapons. (Romy Bwaga)
There were no immediate reports of casualties, but OV-10 bombers pounded enemy positions after rebels released some 200 civilians they briefly held and used them as shield against pursuing soldiers in the outskirts of Panabo City in Davao del Norte province.
Officials said troops were pursuing a band of rebels behind a prison raid last week in Panabo City.
Chief Supt. Andres Caro, regional police chief, said the rebels have released their hostages and are now in government shelter in Panabo. "All the hostages are safe," he told the Mindanao Examiner.
"Philippine Air Force's OV-10 bombers have conducted a series of bombing attacks on the rebels who are reportedly hiding in the two hinterland villages," said Army Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, a regional military spokesman.
There was no immediate statement from rebel leaders about the fighting. The military and police blamed the NPA for the daring raid at the Davao penal farm where rebel, disguised as government troops, carted more than 100 assorted weapons. (Romy Bwaga)
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Rebels Free Military Hostages In Southern Philippines
ILIGAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 11 Mar) – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels freed late Sunday about two dozen soldiers they earlier held in the southern Philippine province of Lanao del Sur, officials said.
The MILF freed their hostages in Lumba Bayabao town after the Philippine Army also released seven members of the rebel group earlier arrested for illegal possession of firearms.
“All the hostages are freed. Everything is alright now. We have resolved the problem and it only shows that the cease-fire mechanism between the military and the MILF is really working. The rebels and the soldiers even shook hands after their release,” Marine Maj. Gen. Mohammad Dolorfino, a member of the government peace panel, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Rebels seized the soldiers at around 4 p.m. in the town of Lumba Bayabao town in retaliation for the arrest of their comrades. The MILF said it would only free the hostages if the military released the seven prisoners.
The MILF said the seven rebels were on their way to a police headquarters to hand over a bandit they earlier arrested, when troops intercepted them. In retaliation, the MILF seized a military detachment and held more than 20 soldiers, Dolorfino said.
He said the MILF, which is currently negotiating peace with Manila, has been working closely with the government through the ad-hoc joint action group to track down criminals and terrorists.
Last year, the MILF rescued a kidnapped nine-year old girl, Donna May Ramos, in Basilan island after rebels stormed the hideout of kidnappers in the hinterlands and arrested two men.
In July last year, MILF rebels also freed a kidnapped social worker, Henry de Guzman, in the southern province of Lanao del Norte barely a day after bandits seized him.
The MILF, the country's largest Muslim separatist rebel group, forged an agreement in 2004 that paved the way for rebel forces to help government hunt down terrorists and criminal elements in areas where the rebel group is actively operating.
The rebel group also provided the government of a list of suspected Filipino and Indonesian terrorists operating in Mindanao. It previously helped Philippine authorities track down and arrest suspected Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya militants in the troubled region. (Mindanao Examiner)
The MILF freed their hostages in Lumba Bayabao town after the Philippine Army also released seven members of the rebel group earlier arrested for illegal possession of firearms.
“All the hostages are freed. Everything is alright now. We have resolved the problem and it only shows that the cease-fire mechanism between the military and the MILF is really working. The rebels and the soldiers even shook hands after their release,” Marine Maj. Gen. Mohammad Dolorfino, a member of the government peace panel, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Rebels seized the soldiers at around 4 p.m. in the town of Lumba Bayabao town in retaliation for the arrest of their comrades. The MILF said it would only free the hostages if the military released the seven prisoners.
The MILF said the seven rebels were on their way to a police headquarters to hand over a bandit they earlier arrested, when troops intercepted them. In retaliation, the MILF seized a military detachment and held more than 20 soldiers, Dolorfino said.
He said the MILF, which is currently negotiating peace with Manila, has been working closely with the government through the ad-hoc joint action group to track down criminals and terrorists.
Last year, the MILF rescued a kidnapped nine-year old girl, Donna May Ramos, in Basilan island after rebels stormed the hideout of kidnappers in the hinterlands and arrested two men.
In July last year, MILF rebels also freed a kidnapped social worker, Henry de Guzman, in the southern province of Lanao del Norte barely a day after bandits seized him.
The MILF, the country's largest Muslim separatist rebel group, forged an agreement in 2004 that paved the way for rebel forces to help government hunt down terrorists and criminal elements in areas where the rebel group is actively operating.
The rebel group also provided the government of a list of suspected Filipino and Indonesian terrorists operating in Mindanao. It previously helped Philippine authorities track down and arrest suspected Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya militants in the troubled region. (Mindanao Examiner)
Muslim Rebels Raid Army Detachment, Seized 2 Dozen Soldiers In South RP
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Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Rift Between Military And MNLF Worsens In Jolo Island
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 06 Feb) – Philippine soldiers warned Muslim rebels who held hostage senior Philippine defense officials and soldiers in Jolo island to stay inside their camps or risk being shot if caught carrying illegal weapons in public places.
“The MNLF rebels should stay inside their camps. If we see armed men outside these camps, then we will engage them,” said Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade on Jolo island.
A faction of MNLF rebels under Habier Malik and Khaid Ajibun held Friday a government peace mission composed of Maj. Gen. Mohamad Dolorfino, of the Philippine Marines; Colonels Davy Ramon and Cipriano Bayan (earlier identified as Sibayan), of the Philippine Army; Defense Under Secretary Ramon Santos and 21 soldiers and staff of Presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza.
The rebels signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996, but the government allowed them to keep their huge inventory of high-power weapons, mostly automatic rifles, anti-tank rockets and machine guns. They later accused the Arroyo government of failing to comply with the accord.
Dolorfino’s group was seized after reports of a scheduled tripartite meeting between the MNLF, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Philippines on Feb. 6-8 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia had been shelved off by the Arroyo government.
The hostages were freed on Sunday after Manila has agreed to proceed with the conference next month. The OIC, which brokered the peace talks, organized the tripartite meeting to discuss the full implementation of the agreement.
The gunmen earlier demanded Manila to free detained rebel chieftain Nur Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges in Manila, so he can lead the MNLF to the tripartite conference.
Dureza said relations between Manila and the MNLF had been damaged following the detention by rebels of senior military and defense officials in Jolo. Dureza said Malik’s group may face charges for seizing the peace mission.
Malik insisted that Dolorfino’s group was not only invited to stay longer inside the rebel base in Bitan-ag village in Panamao town to further negotiate the holding of the tripartite conference.
“We merely invited General Dolorfino’s group to stay longer until we agreed on the resumption of the tripartite meeting. And if Dureza wants to file charges against us, then that’s fine with me. No problems with us even if he files 100 charges.”
“We did nothing wrong, so why blame us. If there is somebody to blame, then it should be the military because they intruded inside our areas and massacred innocent Muslims,” Malik told a Manila-based radio network dzRH on Tuesday.
He said marine soldiers killed 10 MNLF members, including a boy, on Jolo island during a firefight last month with Abu Sayyaf militants. Three soldiers were also killed in the clash.
Sabban said those killed were Abu Sayyaf militants, whose group is tied to al-Qaeda terror network.
MNLF forces retaliated the slaying of its members days later and ambushed an army convoy, killing ten soldiers. Six rebels had been arrested, but local government officials with links to the MNLF, interceded for their release and freed them.
Police and military later said it had no evidence to link the six rebels to the ambush.
Malik said Dureza’s group paid blood money to the families of the slain rebels and returned their weapons seized by troops as part of a deal before the MNLF freed the hostages. “They paid us blood money and returned our weapons,” Malik said.
Dureza confirmed that blood money was paid, but did not say how much. Other reports said as much as P450,000 had been paid to the MNLF.
Malik said the tripartite meeting should be held inside the MNLF base in Jolo island instead of Saudi Arabia and invite representatives from the OIC and the Philippine government and for Manila to free Misuari to allow him to attend the conference.
Egyptian Sayed El-Masry, who is adviser to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, visited Jolo island in May last year. Masry said the Philippines and MNLF leaders must sit together and discuss the problems affecting the implementation of the peace accord.
The OIC also wanted Misuari freed from jail to head the MNLF delegation to Saudi Arabia for the tripartite meeting. He said the tripartite meeting is important to finally settle the problems.
Malik said only Misuari can represent the MNLF. “He is our leader and must be freed so he can lead the MNLF in the tripartite conference in the MNLF camp in Bitan-ag,” he said.
He said only if Manila is sincere in implementing the 11-year old peace accord with the MNLF the problems of insurgency and terrorism in Jolo island would be finally resolved.
After the peace agreement was signed, Nur Misuari, chieftain of the MNLF, became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the agreement, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.Under the peace agreement, Manila would provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
Many former guerrillas were disgruntled with the peace deal, saying, the Arroyo government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living. They accused Manila of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south.
And in November 2001, on the eve of the elections in the Muslim autonomous region, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed. Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, but had been arrested and deported to the Philippines.
Dureza said the good relationship between the Philippine government and the MNLF was affected by the incident. He said the government would take precaution in dealing with the rebels in the future.
"This (hostage-taking) is a setback to their jobs in ensuring that what were agreed upon in the 1996 peace agreement were carried out accordingly,” Dureza said. "It was realistically eroded, not shattered. It would take a lot of work to bring back (that trust and confidence between us and the MNLF) to where it was."
Santos said he was willing to go back to the island and continue the government’s peace efforts with the rebels. “I am willing to return to Jolo, so we can continue what we have started,” he said. "In fact, we will use the opportunity to upgrade our work in Sulu. We will not be deterred; this will not lessen our determination. In fact, we will use this as an impetus to work more, to do a better job." (Mindanao Examiner)
“The MNLF rebels should stay inside their camps. If we see armed men outside these camps, then we will engage them,” said Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade on Jolo island.
A faction of MNLF rebels under Habier Malik and Khaid Ajibun held Friday a government peace mission composed of Maj. Gen. Mohamad Dolorfino, of the Philippine Marines; Colonels Davy Ramon and Cipriano Bayan (earlier identified as Sibayan), of the Philippine Army; Defense Under Secretary Ramon Santos and 21 soldiers and staff of Presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza.
The rebels signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996, but the government allowed them to keep their huge inventory of high-power weapons, mostly automatic rifles, anti-tank rockets and machine guns. They later accused the Arroyo government of failing to comply with the accord.
Dolorfino’s group was seized after reports of a scheduled tripartite meeting between the MNLF, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Philippines on Feb. 6-8 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia had been shelved off by the Arroyo government.
The hostages were freed on Sunday after Manila has agreed to proceed with the conference next month. The OIC, which brokered the peace talks, organized the tripartite meeting to discuss the full implementation of the agreement.
The gunmen earlier demanded Manila to free detained rebel chieftain Nur Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges in Manila, so he can lead the MNLF to the tripartite conference.
Dureza said relations between Manila and the MNLF had been damaged following the detention by rebels of senior military and defense officials in Jolo. Dureza said Malik’s group may face charges for seizing the peace mission.
Malik insisted that Dolorfino’s group was not only invited to stay longer inside the rebel base in Bitan-ag village in Panamao town to further negotiate the holding of the tripartite conference.
“We merely invited General Dolorfino’s group to stay longer until we agreed on the resumption of the tripartite meeting. And if Dureza wants to file charges against us, then that’s fine with me. No problems with us even if he files 100 charges.”
“We did nothing wrong, so why blame us. If there is somebody to blame, then it should be the military because they intruded inside our areas and massacred innocent Muslims,” Malik told a Manila-based radio network dzRH on Tuesday.
He said marine soldiers killed 10 MNLF members, including a boy, on Jolo island during a firefight last month with Abu Sayyaf militants. Three soldiers were also killed in the clash.
Sabban said those killed were Abu Sayyaf militants, whose group is tied to al-Qaeda terror network.
MNLF forces retaliated the slaying of its members days later and ambushed an army convoy, killing ten soldiers. Six rebels had been arrested, but local government officials with links to the MNLF, interceded for their release and freed them.
Police and military later said it had no evidence to link the six rebels to the ambush.
Malik said Dureza’s group paid blood money to the families of the slain rebels and returned their weapons seized by troops as part of a deal before the MNLF freed the hostages. “They paid us blood money and returned our weapons,” Malik said.
Dureza confirmed that blood money was paid, but did not say how much. Other reports said as much as P450,000 had been paid to the MNLF.
Malik said the tripartite meeting should be held inside the MNLF base in Jolo island instead of Saudi Arabia and invite representatives from the OIC and the Philippine government and for Manila to free Misuari to allow him to attend the conference.
Egyptian Sayed El-Masry, who is adviser to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, visited Jolo island in May last year. Masry said the Philippines and MNLF leaders must sit together and discuss the problems affecting the implementation of the peace accord.
The OIC also wanted Misuari freed from jail to head the MNLF delegation to Saudi Arabia for the tripartite meeting. He said the tripartite meeting is important to finally settle the problems.
Malik said only Misuari can represent the MNLF. “He is our leader and must be freed so he can lead the MNLF in the tripartite conference in the MNLF camp in Bitan-ag,” he said.
He said only if Manila is sincere in implementing the 11-year old peace accord with the MNLF the problems of insurgency and terrorism in Jolo island would be finally resolved.
After the peace agreement was signed, Nur Misuari, chieftain of the MNLF, became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the agreement, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.Under the peace agreement, Manila would provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
Many former guerrillas were disgruntled with the peace deal, saying, the Arroyo government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living. They accused Manila of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south.
And in November 2001, on the eve of the elections in the Muslim autonomous region, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed. Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, but had been arrested and deported to the Philippines.
Dureza said the good relationship between the Philippine government and the MNLF was affected by the incident. He said the government would take precaution in dealing with the rebels in the future.
"This (hostage-taking) is a setback to their jobs in ensuring that what were agreed upon in the 1996 peace agreement were carried out accordingly,” Dureza said. "It was realistically eroded, not shattered. It would take a lot of work to bring back (that trust and confidence between us and the MNLF) to where it was."
Santos said he was willing to go back to the island and continue the government’s peace efforts with the rebels. “I am willing to return to Jolo, so we can continue what we have started,” he said. "In fact, we will use the opportunity to upgrade our work in Sulu. We will not be deterred; this will not lessen our determination. In fact, we will use this as an impetus to work more, to do a better job." (Mindanao Examiner)
Monday, February 05, 2007
Jolo Hostage Crisis Adds Crack On Already Damaged GRP-MNLF Peace Deal
MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 05 Feb) – A senior adviser of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo on Monday admitted relations between Manila and the Moro National Liberation (MNLF) had been damaged following 3 days of detention of senior military and defense officials by rebels in Jolo island.
A faction of MNLF rebels under Habier Malik and Khaid Ajibun held Friday Major General Mohamad Dolorfino, of the Philippine Marines; Colonels Davy Ramon and Cipriano Bayan (earlier identified as Sibayan), of the Philippine Army; Defense Under Secretary Ramon Santos and 21 soldiers and staff of Presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza.
The rebels, who signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996, have previously accused the Arroyo government of failing to comply with the accord.
Dolorfino’s group was seized after reports of a scheduled tripartite meeting between the MNLF, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Philippines on Feb. 6-8 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia had been shelved off by the Arroyo government.
The hostages were freed on Sunday after Manila has agreed to proceed with the OIC-led conference next month. The OIC, which brokered the peace talks, organized the tripartite meeting to discuss the full implementation of the agreement.
The gunmen earlier demanded Manila to free detained rebel chieftain Nur Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges in Manila, so he can lead the MNLF to the tripartite conference.
“How can the tripartite meeting proceed without our leader, Nur Misuari? Our leader must be present during the meeting,” Malik said.
But it was unknown if Manila would allow Misuari to Saudi Arabia to lead the MNLF in the meeting. Government officials fear that Misuari may escape while in Saudi or never return and seek political asylum with Arab countries sympathetic to his cause of putting up a strict Islamic state in Mindanao.
MNLF secretary general Muslimin Sema, also mayor of Cotabato City, said the incident in Jolo was not sanctioned by the group’s central committee. “It was a unilateral decision on the part of Malik. We were not even informed about his plan,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.
"This (hostage-taking) is a setback to their jobs in ensuring that what were agreed upon in the 1996 peace agreement were carried out accordingly," Dureza said in a televised news conference in Manila.
“Asked them if they are willing to go back. To be honest, do you think we will send them back tomorrow? Even if we want to, their parents loved ones, family members would not allow them to do that. The level of confidence has been eroded,” he said.
Dureza said the good relationship between the Philippine government and the MNLF was affected by the incident. He said the government would take precaution in dealing with the rebels in the future.
"It was realistically eroded, not shattered. It would take a lot of work to bring back (that trust and confidence between us and the MNLF) to where it was," he said.
Santos said he was willing to go back to the island and continue the government’s peace efforts with the rebels. “I am willing to return to Jolo, so we can continue what we have started,” he said.
"In fact, we will use the opportunity to upgrade our work in Sulu. We will not be deterred; this will not lessen our determination. In fact, we will use this as an impetus to work more, to do a better job," he said.
After the peace agreement was signed, Nur Misuari, chieftain of the MNLF, became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. Despite the accord, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.
Under the peace agreement, Manila would provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
Many former guerrillas were disgruntled with the peace deal, saying, the Arroyo government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living.
They accused Manila of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south.
Many former guerrillas were disgruntled with the peace deal, saying, the Arroyo government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living.
They accused Manila of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south.
And in November 2001, on the eve of the elections in the Muslim autonomous region, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed. Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, but had been arrested and deported to the Philippines.
The OIC also wanted Misuari freed from jail to head the MNLF delegation to Saudi Arabia for the tripartite meeting. Egyptian Sayed El-Masry, who is adviser to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, visited Jolo island in May last year.
Masry said the Philippines and MNLF leaders must sit together and discuss the problems affecting the implementation of the peace accord. He said the tripartite meeting is important to finally settle the problems. (Mindanao Examiner)
Sunday, February 04, 2007
MNLF Rebels Free Jolo Hostages
Hostages arrival in Zamboanga City
Dolorfino
Cedo, Santos
Dureza, Cedo, Santos, Dolorfino 
Philippine troops guard the airport in Jolo island. While a military chopper flies a reconnaissance mission over the island where Moro National Liberation Front rebels seized senior Philippine defense officials and soldiers on Friday and freed two days later after a successful negotiations. The separatist rebel group signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996, but many disgruntled rebels accused the Arroyo government of reneging on the peace deal and threatened to wage war. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 04 Feb) – Philippine Muslim rebels freed Sunday a defense official and a marine general along with soldiers they seized after a peace meeting on the troubled island of Jolo, about 950 km south of the country.
Moro National Liberation Front rebels under Habier Malik and Khaid Ajibun have held since Friday Major General Mohamad Dolorfino, of the Philippine Marines; Colonels Davy Ramon and Cipriano Bayan, of the Philippine Army; Defense Under Secretary Ramon Santos and 21 soldiers and staff of Presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza.
“General Dolorfino, Under Secretary Santos and all members of the Office of the Presidential Assistant and their security team have boarded two helicopters. In other word, they are already out of the MNLF camp on their way here. They will fly back to Manila,” said Brigadier General Juancho Sabban, commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade in Jolo island.
Dolorfino’s group was freed shortly before 4 p.m.
Sabban said the incident did not affect the government’s anti-terror campaign on the island. “This has no effects on our operation,” he said.
Dolorfino’s group was seized after reports of a scheduled tripartite meeting between the MNLF, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Philippines on Feb. 6-8 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia had been shelved off by the Arroyo government.
Philippine military officials denied that the general’s group was held hostage.
Dolorfino said rebels prevented them to leave Jolo island until the issue on the holding of the tripartite meeting has been resolved. “We were asked to stay in Jolo until such time the issue of the holding of the tripartite meeting is resolved,” he said.
“Actually, we were asked to stay (in the camp) so that the government could be pressured to push through (with the tripartite meeting),” he told radio station dxBB on Sunday.
The rebels, who signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996, have previously accused the Arroyo government of failing to comply with the accord.
Manila has agreed to proceed with the OIC-led conference next month. The OIC, which brokered the peace talks, organized the tripartite meeting to discuss the full implementation of the agreement.
The gunmen earlier demanded Manila to free detained rebel chieftain Nur Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges in Manila, so he can lead the MNLF to the tripartite conference.
Dureza flew to Jolo Saturday and negotiated with the rebels to free Dolorfino’s group. He said Manila agreed to preliminary meetings that will eventually lead to the holding of tripartite conference. Dureza said Dolorfino’s group was treated well.
Misuari signed a peace deal with Manila that ended more than 20 years of bloody fighting in the southern Philippines. After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of autonomous region.
Despite the agreement, many former guerrillas were disgruntled with the peace deal, saying, the Arroyo government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living. They accused Manila of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south, which remain in mired in poverty, heavily militarized and dependent financially on the government.
And in November 2001, on the eve of the elections in the Muslim autonomous region, Misuari also accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed.
Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, but had been arrested and deported to the Philippines.
The OIC also wanted Misuari freed from jail to head the MNLF delegation to Saudi Arabia for the tripartite meeting. OIC representatives, led by Egyptian Sayed El-Masry, who is adviser to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, visited Jolo island in May last year.
Masry said the Philippines and MNLF leaders must sit together and discuss the problems affecting the implementation of the peace accord. He said the tripartite meeting is important to finally settle the problems. (Mindanao Examiner)
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Jolo Rebels To Free Hostages
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 03 Feb) – Moro National Liberation Front rebels holding senior Philippine defense officials and soldiers in the southern island of Jolo may soon free all hostages after a series of government negotiations.
The rebels, led by Habier Malik and Khaid Ajibun, have held since Friday Major General Mohamad Dolorfino, of the Philippine Marines; Colonels Davy Ramon and Sibayan, of the Philippine Army; Defense Under Secretary Ramon Santos and 21 soldiers and staff of Presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza.
"The group of General Dolorfino may soon go home," a source privy with the ongoing negotiations, said without elaborating.
They were demanding the government to free detained rebel chieftain Nur Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges in Manila, so he can lead the MNLF to a tripartite conference with Philippine officials and the influential Organization of Islamic Conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this month.
Muslimen Sema, the MNLF secretary general and mayor of Cotabato City, said his group is confident that the problems would be resolved peacefully.
"We are confident the problem can be overcome with both sides sincerity and open mindedness," Sema told the Mindanao Examiner late on Saturday.
Misuari signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996, ending more than 20 years of bloody fighting in the southern Philippines. After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of autonomous region.
But many former guerrillas were disgruntled with the peace accord, saying, the government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living. They accused the government of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south, which remain in mired in poverty, heavily militarized and dependent financially on Manila.
And in November 2001, on the eve of the elections in the Muslim autonomous region, Misuari also accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed.
Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia only to be arrested there and deported to the Philippines.The OIC wanted Misuari released from jail to head the MNLF delegation to Saudi Arabia for the meeting.
Dolorfino flew to Jolo island on Friday morning for a meeting with MNLF leaders, but had been taken captive later in the day after the rebels thumbed down a government proposal to postpone the tripartite meeting.
Southern Philippines military commander Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo denied the reports about the hostage-taking. “It’s not true. They are there in Jolo to talk about the peace agreement with the MNLF,” he said in a separate interview on Saturday.
Dureza, accompanied by Jolo governor Benjamin Loong, flew to the island Saturday to verify the reports. “I was told that the MNLF has asked the group of General Dolorfino to stay in Jolo to clarify some matters, especially on the matters of the holding of the tripartite meeting in Saudi,” Dureza said.
He said Manila agreed to preliminary meetings that will eventually lead to the holding of tripartite conference in Jeddah. Dureza said Dolorfino’s group is being treated well. “They are all fine and well treated and their only complaint was that it is so cold up there (in the mountain),” he said.
Dolorfino on Saturday said rebels prevented them to leave Jolo island until the issue on the holding of the tripartite meeting has been resolved. “We were asked to stay in Jolo until such time the issue of the holding of the tripartite meeting is resolved,” he said by mobile phone from a rebel base in Jolo.
The OIC brokered the peace talks between Manila and the MNLF until a formal agreement. (Mindanao Examiner)
The rebels, led by Habier Malik and Khaid Ajibun, have held since Friday Major General Mohamad Dolorfino, of the Philippine Marines; Colonels Davy Ramon and Sibayan, of the Philippine Army; Defense Under Secretary Ramon Santos and 21 soldiers and staff of Presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza.
"The group of General Dolorfino may soon go home," a source privy with the ongoing negotiations, said without elaborating.
They were demanding the government to free detained rebel chieftain Nur Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges in Manila, so he can lead the MNLF to a tripartite conference with Philippine officials and the influential Organization of Islamic Conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this month.
Muslimen Sema, the MNLF secretary general and mayor of Cotabato City, said his group is confident that the problems would be resolved peacefully.
"We are confident the problem can be overcome with both sides sincerity and open mindedness," Sema told the Mindanao Examiner late on Saturday.
Misuari signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996, ending more than 20 years of bloody fighting in the southern Philippines. After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of autonomous region.
But many former guerrillas were disgruntled with the peace accord, saying, the government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living. They accused the government of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south, which remain in mired in poverty, heavily militarized and dependent financially on Manila.
And in November 2001, on the eve of the elections in the Muslim autonomous region, Misuari also accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed.
Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia only to be arrested there and deported to the Philippines.The OIC wanted Misuari released from jail to head the MNLF delegation to Saudi Arabia for the meeting.
Dolorfino flew to Jolo island on Friday morning for a meeting with MNLF leaders, but had been taken captive later in the day after the rebels thumbed down a government proposal to postpone the tripartite meeting.
Southern Philippines military commander Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo denied the reports about the hostage-taking. “It’s not true. They are there in Jolo to talk about the peace agreement with the MNLF,” he said in a separate interview on Saturday.
Dureza, accompanied by Jolo governor Benjamin Loong, flew to the island Saturday to verify the reports. “I was told that the MNLF has asked the group of General Dolorfino to stay in Jolo to clarify some matters, especially on the matters of the holding of the tripartite meeting in Saudi,” Dureza said.
He said Manila agreed to preliminary meetings that will eventually lead to the holding of tripartite conference in Jeddah. Dureza said Dolorfino’s group is being treated well. “They are all fine and well treated and their only complaint was that it is so cold up there (in the mountain),” he said.
Dolorfino on Saturday said rebels prevented them to leave Jolo island until the issue on the holding of the tripartite meeting has been resolved. “We were asked to stay in Jolo until such time the issue of the holding of the tripartite meeting is resolved,” he said by mobile phone from a rebel base in Jolo.
The OIC brokered the peace talks between Manila and the MNLF until a formal agreement. (Mindanao Examiner)
OIC Statement After Delegation Visited Philippines In May 2006 To Ensure Implementation Of 1996 MNLF Peace Agreement
The Mindanao Examiner is republishing this statement released by the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) after a delegation met with leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Jolo island and Mindanao in May 2006, who accused the Philippine government of reneging on the 1996 Peace Agreement.
Hundreds of disgruntled MNLF rebels are now holding a group of senior Philippine defense officials in Jolo island because of the government's failure to honor the 11-year old peace deal.
"The Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has dispatched a fact-finding mission to the Republic of the Philippines, headed by Ambassador Sayed Kasim El Masri, Adviser to the Secretary-General, to mark the tenth anniversary of the conclusion of the Peace Agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
This mission comes after this agreement has become dysfunctional, leading to increased tension in the region and to the outbreak of fighting in various areas in the province, particularly in the Sulu Island, southern Philippines. This tension has been caused by the arrest of the MNLF President, Prof. Nur Misuari, who became governor of the province after the conclusion of the Peace Agreement in 1996.
The mission visited Mindanao, southern Philippines, where the Government of the Philippines has declared a six-day ceasefire in order to enable the mission to complete its field visits. After negotiations with the parties concerned, the fact finding mission has succeeded in obtaining the approval of the Government of the Philippines and the MNLF fighters to extend the ceasefire in Mindanao sine die.
The fact finding mission has requested the convening in Jeddah of a tripartite meeting of the representatives of the Government, the MNLF and the OIC in order to examine the reasons why the Peace Agreement is not fully implemented, and to find ways and means to remove the obstacles to the completion of the implementation process.
The mission also demanded the release of the MNLF leader, Prof. Nur Misuari, in order to allow him to attend the meeting proposed to be held at the OIC Headquarters next July.
At the end of the visit, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Mrs. Gloria Arroyo, will meet the head of the mission and his accompanying delegation, together with the Ambassadors of OIC Member States who are members of the Committee of the Eight, entrusted with following up on the question of Muslims in Southern Philippines.
The Committee is composed of Saudi Arabia, Libya, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Brunei Darussalam. The MNLF has been fighting for the past fifty years for the right to self determination for the Muslims of Mindanao in Southern Philippines.
Mindanao was an independent Islamic Sultanate, known as the Sultanate of Sulu before the Spanish invasion of the region five centuries ago. Since 1973, the OIC started to provide assistance to the Muslims of the Philippines and to dispatch fact-finding missions.
The Organization also launched an appeal to the Government of the Philippines for negotiation within the national sovereignty in order to reach a political solution that responds justly and fairly to the demands of the Muslims in the Philippines.
On 23 September 1976, the negotiations held in Jeddah and Tripoli, Libya, resulted in an agreement by which the MNLF renounced to its demand of full independence in return for self-rule in 13 regions and 9 cities in Southern Philippines. The implementation of this agreement, however, faced numerous obstacles; fighting broke out again until serious negotiations were launched in the early 1990s under the aegis of the OIC.
The Final Peace Agreement was signed on 2 September 1996 for the implementation of the Tripoli Agreement.Almost ten years have elapsed since the conclusion of the final agreement without reaching the aspired peace. This has pushed the OIC to re-establish contacts with the parties concerned in order to reach a formula that would ensure the full implementation of the provisions of this agreement."
Jeddah : 22 May 2006
Hundreds of disgruntled MNLF rebels are now holding a group of senior Philippine defense officials in Jolo island because of the government's failure to honor the 11-year old peace deal.
"The Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has dispatched a fact-finding mission to the Republic of the Philippines, headed by Ambassador Sayed Kasim El Masri, Adviser to the Secretary-General, to mark the tenth anniversary of the conclusion of the Peace Agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
This mission comes after this agreement has become dysfunctional, leading to increased tension in the region and to the outbreak of fighting in various areas in the province, particularly in the Sulu Island, southern Philippines. This tension has been caused by the arrest of the MNLF President, Prof. Nur Misuari, who became governor of the province after the conclusion of the Peace Agreement in 1996.
The mission visited Mindanao, southern Philippines, where the Government of the Philippines has declared a six-day ceasefire in order to enable the mission to complete its field visits. After negotiations with the parties concerned, the fact finding mission has succeeded in obtaining the approval of the Government of the Philippines and the MNLF fighters to extend the ceasefire in Mindanao sine die.
The fact finding mission has requested the convening in Jeddah of a tripartite meeting of the representatives of the Government, the MNLF and the OIC in order to examine the reasons why the Peace Agreement is not fully implemented, and to find ways and means to remove the obstacles to the completion of the implementation process.
The mission also demanded the release of the MNLF leader, Prof. Nur Misuari, in order to allow him to attend the meeting proposed to be held at the OIC Headquarters next July.
At the end of the visit, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Mrs. Gloria Arroyo, will meet the head of the mission and his accompanying delegation, together with the Ambassadors of OIC Member States who are members of the Committee of the Eight, entrusted with following up on the question of Muslims in Southern Philippines.
The Committee is composed of Saudi Arabia, Libya, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Brunei Darussalam. The MNLF has been fighting for the past fifty years for the right to self determination for the Muslims of Mindanao in Southern Philippines.
Mindanao was an independent Islamic Sultanate, known as the Sultanate of Sulu before the Spanish invasion of the region five centuries ago. Since 1973, the OIC started to provide assistance to the Muslims of the Philippines and to dispatch fact-finding missions.
The Organization also launched an appeal to the Government of the Philippines for negotiation within the national sovereignty in order to reach a political solution that responds justly and fairly to the demands of the Muslims in the Philippines.
On 23 September 1976, the negotiations held in Jeddah and Tripoli, Libya, resulted in an agreement by which the MNLF renounced to its demand of full independence in return for self-rule in 13 regions and 9 cities in Southern Philippines. The implementation of this agreement, however, faced numerous obstacles; fighting broke out again until serious negotiations were launched in the early 1990s under the aegis of the OIC.
The Final Peace Agreement was signed on 2 September 1996 for the implementation of the Tripoli Agreement.Almost ten years have elapsed since the conclusion of the final agreement without reaching the aspired peace. This has pushed the OIC to re-establish contacts with the parties concerned in order to reach a formula that would ensure the full implementation of the provisions of this agreement."
Jeddah : 22 May 2006
Hostage-Takers Demand Release Of Jailed Leader
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 03 Feb) – Muslim rebels continue to hold top Filipino defense officials and soldiers in the southern island of Jolo and demanded Manila to free jailed rebel chieftain Nur Misuari.
A faction of disgruntled Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels are holding Major General Mohamad Dolorfino, of the Philippine Marines; Colonels Davy Ramon and Sibayan, of the Philippine Army; Defense Under Secretary Ramon Santos and 21 soldiers and staff of Presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza.
A report Saturday by cable news network ANC, quoted Abdurahman Jamasali, an aide of Misuari, as saying that rebels were holding Dolorfino’s group hostage in Jolo island since Friday.
The rebels wanted Misuari freed so he can attend an important conference between the Organization of Islamic Conference, the Philippines and the MNLF next week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Misuari is facing rebellion charges and is currently detained in Manila. He signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996, ending more than 20 years of bloody fighting in the southern Philippines.
After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of autonomous region. But many former rebels were disgruntled with the accord, saying, the government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living.
They accused the government of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south, which remain in mired in poverty, heavily militarized and dependent financially on Manila.
In November 2001, on the eve of the ARMM elections, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed.
Misuari escaped by boat to Malaysia, but was arrested there and deported to the Philippines.
The OIC also wanted Misuari released from jail to head the MNLF delegation to Saudi Arabia for the meeting.
Dolorfino’s group is being held at a jungle rebel base in Bitan-ag village near Panamao town, a stronghold of MNLF rebels in Jolo island, where hundreds of gunmen under Habier Malik and Khaid Ajibun are guarding them, said Jamasali.
“Maybe, we will stay here longer here (in Jolo island) unless the tripartite issue is resolved,” Jamasali told the Mindanao Examiner.
Dolorfino flew to Jolo island on Friday morning for a meeting with MNLF leaders, but had been taken captive later in the day after the rebels thumbed down a government proposal to postpone the tripartite on February 6-8.
Southern Philippines military commander Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo denied the reports about the hostage-taking. “It’s not true. They are there in Jolo to talk about the peace agreement with the MNLF,” he said in a separate interview on Saturday.
Dureza, accompanied by Jolo governor Benjamin Loong, flew to the island Saturday to verify the reports. “I was told that the MNLF has asked the group of General Dolorfino to stay in Jolo to clarify some matters, especially on the matters of the holding of the tripartite meeting in Saudi,” Dureza said.
He said Manila agreed to preliminary meetings that will eventually lead to the holding of tripartite conference in Jeddah. Dureza said Dolorfino’s group is being treated well.
“They are all fine and well treated and their only complaint was that it is so cold up there (in the mountain,” he said.
Dolorfino on Saturday said rebels prevented them to leave Jolo island until the issue on the holding of the tripartite meeting has been resolved. “We were asked to stay in Jolo until such time the issue of the holding of the tripartite meeting is resolved,” he said by mobile phone from a rebel base in Jolo.
The OIC brokered the peace talks between Manila and the MNLF until an agreement was signed in September 1996. But the MNLF, a decade after the peace accord, accused the Arroyo government of failing to honor the agreement.
Muslimen Sema, MNLF secretary general and also mayor of Cotabato City, has previously accused the government of failing to honor some provisions in the peace deal and also told this to the OIC representatives, led by Egyptian Sayed El-Masry, who is adviser to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who visited Jolo island in May last year.
"We told the OIC mission about the failure of the government to fully implement the 1996 peace agreement and many of our members are disgruntled about this," Sema said.
Under the peace agreement, Manila would provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
The government later granted autonomy to five Muslim provinces in the south called the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).Some of the disgruntled former rebels have either joined the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's largest separatist rebel group, and the smaller and ruthless Abu Sayyaf group.
And Muslims in the south are most likely to fight for or support an armed separatist front when they perceive no alternative means to overcome discrimination and improve their living conditions.
Masry said the Philippines and MNLF must sit together and discuss the problems affecting the implementation of the peace accord. He said the tripartite meeting in Saudi Arabia is important for the Philippines and the MNLF to finally settle the problems.
The OIC delegation was sent to the southern Philippines following the 32nd Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICEM) at Sana'a Yemen in 2005 to check on the status of the remaining implementation requirement for peace accord. (Mindanao Examiner)
A faction of disgruntled Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels are holding Major General Mohamad Dolorfino, of the Philippine Marines; Colonels Davy Ramon and Sibayan, of the Philippine Army; Defense Under Secretary Ramon Santos and 21 soldiers and staff of Presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza.
A report Saturday by cable news network ANC, quoted Abdurahman Jamasali, an aide of Misuari, as saying that rebels were holding Dolorfino’s group hostage in Jolo island since Friday.
The rebels wanted Misuari freed so he can attend an important conference between the Organization of Islamic Conference, the Philippines and the MNLF next week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Misuari is facing rebellion charges and is currently detained in Manila. He signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996, ending more than 20 years of bloody fighting in the southern Philippines.
After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of autonomous region. But many former rebels were disgruntled with the accord, saying, the government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living.
They accused the government of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south, which remain in mired in poverty, heavily militarized and dependent financially on Manila.
In November 2001, on the eve of the ARMM elections, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed.
Misuari escaped by boat to Malaysia, but was arrested there and deported to the Philippines.
The OIC also wanted Misuari released from jail to head the MNLF delegation to Saudi Arabia for the meeting.
Dolorfino’s group is being held at a jungle rebel base in Bitan-ag village near Panamao town, a stronghold of MNLF rebels in Jolo island, where hundreds of gunmen under Habier Malik and Khaid Ajibun are guarding them, said Jamasali.
“Maybe, we will stay here longer here (in Jolo island) unless the tripartite issue is resolved,” Jamasali told the Mindanao Examiner.
Dolorfino flew to Jolo island on Friday morning for a meeting with MNLF leaders, but had been taken captive later in the day after the rebels thumbed down a government proposal to postpone the tripartite on February 6-8.
Southern Philippines military commander Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo denied the reports about the hostage-taking. “It’s not true. They are there in Jolo to talk about the peace agreement with the MNLF,” he said in a separate interview on Saturday.
Dureza, accompanied by Jolo governor Benjamin Loong, flew to the island Saturday to verify the reports. “I was told that the MNLF has asked the group of General Dolorfino to stay in Jolo to clarify some matters, especially on the matters of the holding of the tripartite meeting in Saudi,” Dureza said.
He said Manila agreed to preliminary meetings that will eventually lead to the holding of tripartite conference in Jeddah. Dureza said Dolorfino’s group is being treated well.
“They are all fine and well treated and their only complaint was that it is so cold up there (in the mountain,” he said.
Dolorfino on Saturday said rebels prevented them to leave Jolo island until the issue on the holding of the tripartite meeting has been resolved. “We were asked to stay in Jolo until such time the issue of the holding of the tripartite meeting is resolved,” he said by mobile phone from a rebel base in Jolo.
The OIC brokered the peace talks between Manila and the MNLF until an agreement was signed in September 1996. But the MNLF, a decade after the peace accord, accused the Arroyo government of failing to honor the agreement.
Muslimen Sema, MNLF secretary general and also mayor of Cotabato City, has previously accused the government of failing to honor some provisions in the peace deal and also told this to the OIC representatives, led by Egyptian Sayed El-Masry, who is adviser to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who visited Jolo island in May last year.
"We told the OIC mission about the failure of the government to fully implement the 1996 peace agreement and many of our members are disgruntled about this," Sema said.
Under the peace agreement, Manila would provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
The government later granted autonomy to five Muslim provinces in the south called the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).Some of the disgruntled former rebels have either joined the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's largest separatist rebel group, and the smaller and ruthless Abu Sayyaf group.
And Muslims in the south are most likely to fight for or support an armed separatist front when they perceive no alternative means to overcome discrimination and improve their living conditions.
Masry said the Philippines and MNLF must sit together and discuss the problems affecting the implementation of the peace accord. He said the tripartite meeting in Saudi Arabia is important for the Philippines and the MNLF to finally settle the problems.
The OIC delegation was sent to the southern Philippines following the 32nd Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICEM) at Sana'a Yemen in 2005 to check on the status of the remaining implementation requirement for peace accord. (Mindanao Examiner)
BREAKING NEWS: Muslim Rebels Take Hostage Senior Defense, Military Officials And Troops In Strife-Torn Jolo Island
Government troops disembark from a military truck in Jolo island. Moro National Liberation Front rebels held hostage Friday 02 Jan 2007 senior military and defense officials and soldiers in Jolo and warned Manila not to postpone a scheduled tripartite meeting between the Organization of Islamic Conference, the MNLF and the Philippines next week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The OIC wanted jailed MNLF leader Nur Misuari released to attend the conference. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)JOLO ISLAND (Mindanao Examiner / 03 Feb) – Disgruntled Muslim rebels who signed a peace agreement with Manila in 1996 have taken hostage senior military and defense officials and soldiers in Jolo island, about 950 km south of the Philippine capital.
Members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are holding Major General Mohamad Dolorfino, of the Philippine Marines; Colonels Davy Ramon and Sibayan, of the Philippine Army; Defense Under Secretary Ramon Santos, 21 soldiers and staff of Presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza, rebel sources told the Mindanao Examiner.
They were being held at a jungle rebel base in Bitan-ag village near Panamao town, a stronghold of MNLF rebels in Jolo island. Government negotiations are going on for the release of all the hostages held by hundreds of rebels under Habier Malik and Khaid Ajibun.
Dolorfino’s group flew to Jolo island on Friday morning for a meeting with MNLF leaders, but had been taken captive later in the day after the rebels thumbed down a government proposal to postpone a scheduled tripartite meeting by the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the Philippines and MNLF in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on February 6-8.
Southern Philippines military commander Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo denied the report, but Dureza confirmed that Dolorfino’s group flew to Jolo and were in Bitan-ag village. “They are sleeping by now in Bitan-ag. We will have validated reports in the morning,” he said.
The OIC brokered the peace talks between Manila and the MNLF until an agreement was signed in September 1996. But the MNLF, a decade after the peace accord, accused the Arroyo government of failing to honor the agreement.
Muslimen Sema, MNLF secretary general and also mayor of Cotabato City, has previously accused the government of failing to honor some provisions in the peace deal and also told this to the OIC representatives, led by international human rights expert Egyptian Sayed El-Masry, who is adviser to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who Jolo island in May last year.
"We told the OIC mission about the failure of the government to fully implement the 1996 peace agreement and many of our members are disgruntled about this," Sema said.
Nur Misuari, chieftain of the MNLF, signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996, ending more than 20 years of bloody fighting in the southern Philippines.
After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of autonomous region. Despite the accord, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.
Under the peace agreement, Manila would provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards. The government later granted autonomy to five Muslim provinces in the south called the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
But many former rebels were disgruntled with the accord, saying, the goverment failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living. They accused the government of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south, which remain in mired in poverty, heavily militarized and dependent financially on Manila.
Some of the disgruntled former rebels have either joined either the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), now the country’s largest separatist rebel group, or the smaller and ruthless Abu Sayyaf group.
And Muslims in the south are most likely to fight for or support an armed separatist front when they perceive no alternative means to overcome discrimination and improve their living conditions.
In November 2001, on the eve of the ARMM elections, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed. Misuari is facing trial on rebellion charges.
The OIC wanted Misuari released from jail to head the MNLF delegation to Saudi for the tripartite meeting.
"What we need now is the religious implementation of the peace agreement, so we can realize permanent peace and progress in the southern Philippines. The region is neglected, the Muslims are discriminated and many live in poverty. We need to rebuild everything, social and physical infrastructure are important to sustain the little peace that is left," Sema said.
Masry said after his visit last year to Jolo that Manila and MNLF must sit together and discuss the problems affecting the implementation of the peace accord. He said the proposed tripartite meeting in Saudi Arabia is important for the Philippines and the MNLF to finally settle the problems.
The OIC delegation was sent to the southern Philippines following the 32nd Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICEM) at Sana'a Yemen in 2005 to check on the status of the remaining implementation requirement for peace accord.
In 2006, more than 1,400 disgruntled MNLF members in Mindanao threatened to abandon the 1996 peace agreement they signed with Manila after accusing the government of reneging on its pact with the former separatist rebel group.
“MNLF commanders all over Mindanao are getting restless over the perceived failure of the government to fulfill its obligations. I am afraid that if the government does not take this seriously, the negative sentiments of our armed combatants can run out of proportion and might lead to eventual abandonment of the agreement,” Sema said.
The MNLF also boycotted the ARMM elections in 2005 after the government supported Maguindanao town mayor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, a staunch ally of President Gloria Arroyo, instead of MNLF candidates. (Mindanao Examiner)
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Ransom Paid For 4 Jolo Hostages?
Philippine Army Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, center, speaks at a news conference Saturday 21 Oct 2006 in Zamboanga City, as he presents 4 freed kidnapped Filipino engineers to journalists. Cedo tags the Abu Sayyaf as behind the kidnapping of the four men, one of them, engineer Romeo Rivera, 4th from left, who works for the United States Agency for Internatioanal Development-Growth for Equity in Mindanao (USAID-GEM). (Mindanao Examiner)JOLO ISLAND (Mindanao Examiner / 22 Oct) – An unspecified amount of ransom was believed paid to kidnappers in the restive southern Philippine island of Jolo in exchange for the freedom of four Filipino hostages, a military source said Sunday.
The four men, engineers Romeo Rivera, a program manager working for the United States Agency for International Development-Growth with Equity in Mindanao (USAID-GEM); and Reynaldo Rubio and Larry Bautista, of the Manila-based Terra Zyme Chemicals; and their driver, Isidro Amaramo were recovered by troops on Friday, two days after their own native bodyguards kidnapped them while inspecting a Washington-funded road project in the town called Parang.
Philippine Army Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo later tagged the Abu Sayyaf group as behind the kidnapping and identified three of the captors as brothers Anni and Iting Sailani and Bong Iskandal (other reports say Sakandal).
Colonel Reynaldo Sealana, commander of an army brigade on Jolo island, said the four had been freed without ransom.
“The kidnappers freed the hostages without ransom because of mounting military pressure,” Sealana said.He said the kidnappers freed the hostages before a 24-hour military ultimatum for their release was to end on Friday.
He said villagers angered by the incident also threatened to seize the families and relatives of the kidnappers if they don’t free the four men.
But the regional police chief Joel Goltiao told reporters that the four had escaped from their captors late Wednesday. “They were able to escape from their captor; that is what they told the police,” Goltiao said.
The source said private negotiators allegedly paid ransom in exchange for the four men. The ransom payment was sanctioned by provincial government officials, the source claimed.
But the island’s governor Benjamin Loong said the hostages escaped after their captors fell asleep. “The hostages really escaped from the kidnappers,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.
One of the freed victim said the kidnappers demanded at least P30 million ransoms in exchange for their freedom.“The kidnappers asked P20 million from me and my companion and another P10 million from Rivera,” Rubio said.
The military said troops were pursuing the kidnappers, who had been implicated in the spate of killings of soldiers and civilians, including Filipino news photographer Gene Boyd Lumawag two years ago, on Jolo island, about 950 km south of Manila. (Mindanao Examiner)
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