Troops surround kidnappers' hideout in Philippines: official

Posted at 12/19/2009 5:52 PM | Updated as of 12/19/2009 5:52 PM

MANILA - Government security forces have surrounded a mountain hideout of suspected Islamic militants holding a college professor hostage in the southern Philippines, an official said Saturday.

A negotiator has been ordered to try and talk the kidnappers into releasing Orlando Fajardo in a last ditch effort to peacefully solve the crisis, the official added.

"Our emissary is still up there and law enforcement forces are still surrounding the area where the kidnappers and the victim are," said Al Rasheed Sakalahul, deputy governor of Basilan island province where Fajardo was seized.

Armed men believed to be members of the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group barged into Fajardo's home on December 10 and took him away. Fajardo is the vice president of Basilan State College and also a licensed engineer.

Sakalahul told ABS-CBN television the kidnappers had demanded an unspecified ransom and had initially given negotiators until Friday to pay up. The ultimatum was later lifted.

He said that if the emissary failed to convince the kidnappers to free Fajardo within the next two days "authorities will take over and adopt a resolution to allow enforcers to (carry out a) rescue."

Fajardo's kidnapping came just a day after Abu Sayyaf militants beheaded another Filipino kidnap victim they seized with two illegal Chinese workers from a plywood factory also in Basilan last month.

The other victims -- Michael Tan, 27 and Oscar Lu, 51 -- are believed to be still alive, although the militants had warned they would suffer the same fate if the factory owner did not pay a ransom demand of 1.5 million pesos (32,500 dollars).

The Abu Sayyaf are a small group of militants blamed for the Philippines' worst terrorist attacks, including the bombing of a ferry in Manila Bay in 2004 that killed over 100.

The Abu Sayyaf was also blamed for the beheading of a school principal on nearby Jolo island last month, just days before US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Manila.

Abu Sayyaf attacks have left at least 48 Filipino soldiers and 70 insurgents dead since January, according to an AFP tally based on military reports.


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10 comments

Kidnappers

Pulo sila sullound sullound pero AFP patakas din sa huli tulad sa ospital sa basilan sullound na pero takas pa.....sasabi AFP kukunti Abu Sayyaf AFP libo libo pero di pa rin huli wat's goeng on? delehensya na naman politiko sa basilan at baka porsyento polis at sundalo...


sana naman po. sana naman

sana naman po. sana naman po.. i've been anxious for news since the day he got kidnapped. i am glad to hear that the government's making an effort. my fiance (his son) prefers to not tell me what's going on back there dahil baka hindi ko makaya. at least, tumaas po uli ang hope ko. ang dali dali lang po kasi bumasa ng news na ganito, ngunit kung kayo na po ang nakunan, napakasakit talaga. sana marescue na po (safely) o mairelease at nang makalipat na lang sila dito sa Cebu. :( at nang makita ko na po uli ang fiance ko.. i've been so worried for the past few days di na ako makatulog... sana naman po Lord. please.

though hope is frail, it's hard to kill. and i believe God won't abandon us.


Sana naman

Sana naman ay madakip nia agad ang mga masasamng taong ito at ng hindi na sila makasakit sa kanliang kapwa.

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And they escaped - again

The abu sayaf gang and its affiliates are endangered species. They are environmentally protected by people from government, the usual separatist group of relatives, and of course the foreign military superpower who has vested interest on the opportunity for what they call learning purposes.

Sadly, these animals are more protected than the civilians simply because the helpless people are not yet on the verge of extinction. As usual, the animals would go to towns and communities grab whoever they want. Well its fun for them, just like plucking chickens from the farm. The never ending story continuous with the military again (always and forever) running after the animals with the vow to neutralize and the cycle never ends.

How can this craziness stop? The answer is not on the military, the police, or whoever from the government. The victims should learn to fight. You don't only fight, you have to fight hard. Even animals have the instinct to fight back. The people in the community should value each other, protect each other, be more closer to one another and more sensitive to what's going on in the community. This is not an easy one and sacrifices have to be made. You can never rely on the military commanders. They are too protected by the system that incompetence only means relief and transfer. The CAT and ROTC training is actually better because of the demerits system (except of course for the under the table which is truly a military thing). The military chain of command is nothing but politics with guns.

Only the younger generations in the military have the passion to go after these separatists. BUT, By the time they go up in ranks, they lose all of these. Bottom line – its useless. Take the case of those young military officers who tried withdrawal of support. They saw the evil in the system and they were not afraid to die, but after they were thrown to jail, they changed their minds. That is how fragile our military is.

Well, we don't need military power to fight the abu sayaf. They might just be selling guns and ammo. The people need hunters who have the passion and the patience to wait for the kill. Hunters don't need grenade launchers and heavy firepower, they make traps and enjoy catching wild animals.

If you want all out war, try erap. After the war, its impeachment time again. I think erap should be secretary of defence – southern mindanao chapter. No war and kidnapping – just jueteng. Of course gambling is lesser evil.


Babala

GANYAN TALAGA ANG UGALI NG MGA MUSLIM DYAN KAPATID, DAHIL MINULAT SILA NG KANILANG KULTURA AT RELIHIYON SA PAMAMAGITAN NG KANILANG KORAN NA ANG PINAG BASEHAN LANG NAMAN AY BIBLIYA AT NG MARAMING KUNO RELIHIYON PERO NAKA-DEPENDE RIN SA BIBLIYA NA GAWA NG KRISTIANO. KAYA MASABI KO ITO'Y ISANG MALAKING PANDARAYA SA KANILANG MGA TAGASUNOD DAHIL MASYADO NA SILANG BINULAG NG KANILANG PANINIWALA. PERO GANON PA MAN DAPAT RESPETUHAN NA LANG KUNG PWEDE, MAAARI BA..HALIMBAWA AT INC SAAN BA NILILIBING ANG KANILANG MGA PATAY DI BA SA LIBINGAN NG KRISTIANO AT SI MANALO SAAN NILIBING AYON DOON SA KANILANG SAMBAHAN NA TANGING PAMILYA LANG NILA ANG MAAARING ILIBING DOON. HAY! KAWAWA NAMAN ANG MGA KRISTIANO DYAN, DI BALE DARATING ANG PANAHON NA KAPAG ANG KRISTIANO NAMAN ANG NAG ALBUROTO SIGURADO UBOS ANG KAHULI-HULIHANG LAHI NG MGA MUSLIM DYAN AT IBANG RELIHIYON NA WALANG SAWA SA PANGHIHIMASOK SA PANANAMPALATAYA NG MGA KRISTIANO. KAYA SAAN KAYO SA ISANG KULTO O SA KRISTIANO NA DAAN PATUNGO SA LANDAS NG PANGINOON? BE CAREFUL MY FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTER..


NANAWAGAN PO

5

NANAWAGAN PO AKO SA MGA SENATORS AT SA MGA MILITAR NG BASILAN..ANG REKLAMO SA MGA KRISTIYANO HABANG PUMUPUNTA MAG SIMBANG GABI,ITONG MGA SALBAHENG MUSLIM HINAHARANGAN AT BINUBUGBOG ANG MGA NAGLALAKAD NA MGA KRISTYANO PAPUNTANG SIMBAHAN..TALAGANG ANG MGA MUSLIM SA BASILAN ASAL AMPATUAN DIN ANG MGA IYAN.HINDI KO NILALAHAT ANG MGA MUSLIM PERO SANA UMAKSYON NAMNA KAYO SA SENADO BAGO MAGPAPATAYAN BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS SA BASILAN.PATI MGA BATA NA NAG AAGINALDO SA MGA BAHAY-BAHAY KINUKUHA NILA ANG MGA PERA NG MGA BATA.GANYAN PO KASALBAHE ANG MGA MUSLIM SA LUGAR NG BASILAN.KUNG BAKIT GANYAN UMASTA MGA MUSLIM?DAHIL KATULAD YAN NG MGA AMPATUAN.MATAPANG LANG DAHIL SA HAWAK NILANG MGA BARIL.YAN PO ANG PROBLEMA SA BASILAN KAHIT NOON PA NA HANGGANG NGAYON DI MALUTAS-LUTAS DAHIL KAHIT MEDIA BINABALEWALA ANG BASILAN.YAN PO ANG HINANAKIT NG MGA KRISTIYANONG BASILENOS!!!!!


Magpakatino

Ano kami mga AFP uto2 na sunod ng sunod sa mga social na mama2yan sa kamaynilaan na ipagtanggol kayo at bansa nyo at itaya namin ang aming buhay dahil sa seguridad nyo, hellooo mag pakatino muna kayo at h'wag masyado kayo mga social at ambisyoso kayo na maya2man at maya2bang ay laging itataya ang buhay dahil sa inyo, nek2 nyo. Patas2 na lang gusto din namin yumaman at tikman ang buhay na nattikman nyo noh, kaya ok lang sige kidnapin ninyo ang mga social dyan sa mindanao tapos hati2 kami ng mga bandido mga letseng maya2man na akala mo mga panginoon naming lahat ng kasandaluhan. Unggoyan na lang tayo pare-pareho tutal wala rin naman kayong disiplina tulad ng mga kriminal sa bundok.


SAME OLD STORY

PAULIT-ULIT NA LANG NA GANITO AT PAULIT-ULIT DIN SINASABI NG GOBYERNO NA ALL OUT WAR LABAN SA MGA BANDIDO TAPOS HETO MAKIKIPAGNEGOSASYON PA ANG GOBYERNO... BAKA NEXT MONTH ANDITO NA NAMAN TAYO SA GANITONG ISTORYA... MAY KAKAYAHAN BA TALAGA ANG GOBYERNO NA SUGPUIN ANG GANITONG KLASENG TAO O GINAGAMIT LANG NINYO ITO PARA LUMIHIS SA IBANG KUWENTO O MAGSARSUWELA PARA MAGKAPERA ANG ILAN??? KAYA NAG-AARMAS ANG PANGKARANIWANG TAO DAHIL WALA NAGPOPROTEKSIYON SA MAMAYAN AT WALANG PIRMIHAN NA SULOSYUN ANG GOBYERNO LABAN SA MGA BANDIDO AT TERORISTA... KUMILOS KAYO HINDI PURO KUWENTO!!!


ULTIMATUM

HOW MANY TIMES DID GOVERNMENT TROOPS SORROUNDED THIS SAME TERRORIST GROUP? AND MANY TIMES DID THEY EVADED ARREST AND CAPTURE? SOMETHING FISHY ABOUT THE INCIDENT IN THE PAST? WHY CAN'T THE FORCES WAGE AN ALL OUT CAMPAIGN AND OFFENSIVES AGAINST THESE RATS. ULTIMATUM SURRENDER OR DIE.RID AND FINISH THEM OFF. ABSOLUTELY NO RAMSON AND NEGOTIATION TO TERRORIST!!!!OR AGAIN THIS WILL BE A FISHY BUSINESS BY BOTH? AUTHORITIES AND TERRORISTS? PABALATO NAMAN SI JUANA NG CHANGE!!!

change yes we can

STRICTLY NO NEGOTIATION WITH TERRORIST

TIGILAN NA PO NG GOBYERNO ANG NEGOTIATION WITH TERRORIST. KAILAN MAY HAND OFF POLICY ANG GOBYERNO. "STRICKLY NO NEGOTIATION WITH TERRORIST". KAILANG TANGGAPIN NA NATIN NA MAYROON MAMATAY. SA SUNDALO NAMAN LINISAN ANG MINDANAO SA TERRORIST. BAN ANG GUN TO ALL CITIZEN OF MINDANAO, NO EXEMPTION ALL APPLIED TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, NMLF,MILF AND PRIVATE ARMIES. SHOOT TO KILL DOON SA LALABAN, ACCESSORIES, HANDLER AND SUPPORTER. GANYAN PO DAPAT.