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Sunday, June 29, 2008
Baselco stops rescue operations for seized workers
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Basilan Electric Cooperative (Baselco) requested government troopers to stop rescuing its four employees who remain captives of the Abu Sayyaf bandits and alleged Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Basilan province.
Basilan police provincial director Salik Macapantar disclosed this request Saturday, citing it was relayed to him and 1st Marine Brigade chief Rustico Guerrero by Baselco general manager Alfredo Oyao last Friday.
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Police and military troops have been tracking down the abductors' whereabouts as well as that of the captives since the victims were seized last Thursday.
Macapantar said Oyao told them that Baselco management is exerting efforts to seek the safe release of the remaining captives who are all meter readers.
However, they were not informed as to what Baselco would do to seek the hostages' release.
Still being held captives are Emilberto Singson, Alberto Singson, Paul Herwig, and Ian Herwig. They are under the engineering department of Baselco.
The Singsons and Herwigs were seized along with Ronnie Tansiong around 11 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Sinulatan, Tuburan town by the combined group of Abu Sayyaf bandits and MILF rebels.
Tansiong was released around 7 p.m. of the same day, eight hours after they were seized.
Macapantar said he heard that there is a demand from the abductors, but could not say what they (abductors) wanted.
The said demand was made through a letter carried by Tansiong when he was freed last Thursday evening.
"Hindi pinakita sa amin ang sulat (The letter was not shown to us)" Macapantar said.
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) police director Joel Goltiao said his officers and personnel in Basilan province were not able to directly talk to Tansiong since Thursday.
"We don't know if he is being hidden," Goltiao said.
A Crisis Management Committee (CMC) has been created to expedite the resolution of the abduction of Baselco employees.
Macapantar identified the leaders of the suspects as Nur Hassan Jamiri, an alleged leader of the Abu Sayyaf, and Usih Hasim, who is allegedly an MILF leader based in Basilan province.
The abductors brought the hostages to Barangay Mangalot of the nearby town of Akbar, said Macapantar.
Baselco is the sole power distributor in the entire province of Basilan, which comprises of two cities and 11 municipalities. (Bong P. Garcia/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (June 29, 2008 issue)
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