Cops hands off in talks to free 4 kidnap victims in Basilan

MANILA, Philippines – The local police in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will not interfere in the negotiations to free the four employees of the Basilan Electric Cooperative (Baselco) who remain captive by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan province. A radio report Monday quoted Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, ARMM police director, as saying that they would let the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) deal with the hostage crisis. The CMC is the body formed by executives from the Baselco along with several local government officials acting as negotiators. Goltiao’s pronouncement came after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier temporarily suspended its military operations in Basilan to rescue the four remaining hostages. Armed men believed to be Abu Sayyaf members seized five Baselco employees identified as Ronnie Tansiung, Emilberto Singson, Alberto Singson, Paul Herwig, and Ian Herwig last June 26 in Tuburan town. Tansuing was freed on the same day. Goltiao however assured they would be closely monitoring the negotiations to free the victims. He added that he was confident that the negotiations would yield positive results. He said he believed that the latest abduction incident could be resolved without using brute force. The ARMM police director also maintained that the government would observe strictly its “no ransom policy." The Abu Sayyaf had given the Baselco until Tuesday to produce P1 million in ransom or it will be increased to P10 million by Wednesday. The kidnap group, reportedly composed of 10 Abu Sayyaf members led by Nur Hassan Jamiri, also said they would kill the hostages if the ransom demand is not met. - GMANews.TV