|
Monday, June 30, 2008
Electric firm sticks to no-ransom policy
ZAMBOANGA -- The Basilan Electric Cooperative (Baselco) management will stick to government's no ransom policy in seeking the release of its four employees who are still being held captive by Abu Sayyaf bandits and alleged Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Basilan province.
Baselco general manager Alfredo Oyao said they would not pay ransom if in case the abductors would demand payment in exchange for the release of the four hostages.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Still being held captives are Emilberto Singson, Alberto Singson, Paul Herwig, and Ian Herwig -- all meters readers detailed at Baselco's engineering department.
The Singsons and Herwigs were seized along with Ronnie Tansiung around 11 a.m. on Thursday last week while the victims were doing meter reading in Barangay Sinulatan in the town of Tuburan.
The Abu Sayyaf bandits and MILF rebels have, however, released Tansiung, 24, a Yakan native, around 7 p.m. Thursday or eight hours after the Baselco employees were seized.
Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar, Basilan police provincial director, said he heard the abductors have already made a demand through a letter sent through Tansiung.
Macapantar, however, could not say what was in the letter since it was not shown to them when he and 1st Marine Brigade chief Rustico Guerrero visited Baselco.
Oyao said they have no means of producing the money to pay the ransom demand of abductors.
Oyao said Baselco still owes a huge debt to the National Power Corporation (Napocor) in the amount of P577,695,949.99. The amount has accumulated since 1998.
He said what Baselco could promise in exchange for the release of the hostages is the continuous electrification of other villages in Tuburan and Tipo-Tipo towns, where the abductors may be staying, that are still not being served by the electric cooperative.
Oyao said continuous electrification is a better option rather than paying ransom.
He called on the abductors to free the hostages for humanitarian reasons, saying they are from poor families and are working to earn a decent living.
Each of the captives is earning P200 daily as personnel of Baselco's engineering department.
He disclosed that Basilan Vice Governor Alrashid Sakalahul is helping secure the safe release of the hostages. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (June 30, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
At least 11 killed as army, police battle rebels