MARINE forces are pursuing efforts to ensure the safe release of two comrades taken hostage by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels under commander Malat Sulaiman alias Long Masud last Tuesday.
Navy spokesman Edgardo Arevalo identified the two soldiers as Corporals Jessie Duatin and Bernie Akabasa, both of the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 7.
Arevalo said the two were taken by Masud's group in Barangay Makalang, Al Barkah.
"The MILF commander, Long Masud, is demanding the release of his nephew, Salih Dungkal Alih, in exchange for the freedom of the Marines," said Arevalo. Alih was arrested by intelligence operatives last week on suspicion he was a member of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group.
MBLT 7 Chief Leonard Vincent Teodoro hoped for the early resolution of the incident.
In a report to Marine Chief Jonathan Martir, Teodoro said Salih can be released by the court on the ground of mistaken identity when the court conducts a pre-trial of the case.
Teodoro said the warrant of arrest served on the suspect contains the name Salim Alih Masud.
Teodoro said he has established lines of communications with commander Long through the assistance of the rebel's sister and Alih's mother Hadja Raiza Masud. He said he has spoken to the two soldiers over the phone Wednesday afternoon.
According to Arevalo, the Navy is reiterating its "strong and consistent adherence to the stand of the government not to succumb to demands of ransom payment or agreeing to concessions involving release of captured military personnel."
He also said the Navy "condemns the act of commander Long Masud of resorting to abduction of the two Marines as a bargaining chip to command the release of his arrested nephew."
The official said the military "will lodge yet another protest against the MILF for this criminal act of commander Long and his armed followers that clearly transgresses the ceasefire agreement." (VR/Sunnex)
