| DND fears more Sayyaf kidnappings By Mirasol Ng-Gadil and Joel San Juan
WITH the huge
ransom money, estimated at P245 million, received by the Abu Sayyaf terrorists for
releasing seven hostages, the government is expecting more kidnapping incidents even after
all the remaining captives are freed.
This was revealed
yesterday by Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado who said government believes that the
terrorists spent the ransom they received from foreign governments to buy firearms which
they could use to kidnap more victims.
At the same time,
Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora expressed confidence that the hostage crisis in Jolo,
Sulu would end in two weeks, or on Aug. l5, as promised by chief government negotiator
Robert Aventajado.
Zamora said
President Estrada received the same assurance from Aventajado who informed him that Abu
Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot had expressed willingness to release all
the remaining hostages on or before Aug. l5.
This developed as
Mr. Estrada insisted that Aventajado would remain as chief negotiator despite the clamor
of some lawmakers for him to resign either as chief negotiator or adviser of the President
to avoid conflict regarding his functions.
“That is the
prerogative of the executive. Their job is to make laws. There is no conflict.
He is not receiving a single cent in his job as a negotiator,” the President
said.
Aventajado, on the
other hand, said his assignment as chief negotiator has not affected his performance as
presidential adviser on flagship projects.
“It is not an
implementing arm. It’s nothing, it has no day-to-day responsibility. It
has no budget,” Aventajado explained.
He said his
function as presidential adviser is to coordinate and monitor flagship projects and not to
implement them.
Also in
Malacañang, Mercado expressed concern over the reported firearms purchases by the Abu
Sayyaf, which would encourage them to kidnap more victims.
“There have
been reports, especially coming from Sulu, about a widespread buying of firearms.
So, we could now be facing a bigger problem in enforcing the law,” Mercado
said, “And it is very possible that there would be more kidnappings for ransom in the
future.”
Last Monday, Armed
Forces chief of staff Gen. Angelo Reyes unexpectedly disclosed in a Cabinet meeting
attended by reporters that the terrorists had received P245 million for the release of
several hostages who were abducted from the Malaysian dive resort of Sipadan Island off
Sabah last April 23.
Reyes said the
money was for the board and lodging of the foreign hostages.
But Mercado said
government considers the “ransom” payment to the hostage takers as “practically
a violation of the existing policy.”
“It is a
confirmation of what people have been talking about for the past months,” he added.
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