Basilan forms crisis team for abducted aid workers
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/17/2008 7:45 PM
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Local government officials and other concerned agencies have formed a crisis management team to aid in rescue efforts for two aid workers who were kidnapped by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Tipo-Tipo town in Basilan province.
At the same time, Col. Rustico Guerrero, 1st Marine Brigade commander, said the military has temporarily stopped offensives against Abu Sayyaf commanders Furuji Indama and Nurhassan Jamiri to give way to negotiations.
The group of Indama and Jamiri were held responsible for the abudction of Espernada Hupia and Milet Mendoza of the Christian Children's Fund, a non-government organization.
The crisis management team is led by Vice-Gov. Al-Rashed Sakalahul.
He said that he has yet to establish contact with the kidnappers. He also said that he will abide by the government's "no ransom" policy.
On Tuesday, the military said that kidnappers released three other aid workers who were abduced along with Hupia and Mendoza.
Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said Ludivina Dekit, Romy de los Reyes and Jun Estandarte were released by their kidnappers late Monday "without paying ransom."
Arevalo said the three were released in Al-Barka town through the efforts of Tipo-Tipo Mayor Tong Istarul.
Earlier reports said there were three women and a man in the group, but the Philippine Navy said five from a group of 12 people in an aid convoy were abducted after their vehicles were stopped by armed men in Barangay Cabangalan in Tipo-Tipo.
The aid workers were on their way to Isabela City when the abduction took place, reports said.
The five, who worked for a group funded by a Malaysian charity, were abducted in an area known as a hotbed of the Abu Sayyaf, which the military says has ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.
Arevalo said the military and the police continued rescue operations for the two remaining captives, while the local government of Tipo-Tipo was negotiating with the kidnappers.
