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Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Captors of Baselco workers demand P1M
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Abu Sayyaf bandits and alleged Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels who are still holding captive four workers of a Basilan power firm have demanded ransom of P1 million for their hostages.
Basilan Provincial Police Director Salik Macapantar said the demand was "the talk of the town and confirmed by Baselco (Basilan Electric Cooperative) general manager Alfredo Oyao the last time we talked."
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The ransom demand was made in a letter written by the bandits and rebels and sent through Ronnie Tansiung, 24, one of the five Baselco workers they seized last Thursday.
Tansiung, along with Emilberto Singson, Alberto Singson, Paul Herwig, and Ian Herwig, were doing meter-reading works when they were seized around 11 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Sinulatan, Tuburan, Basilan.
The kidnappers freed Tansiung around 7 p.m. Thursday to deliver the demand letter but kept the Singsons and Herwigs as hostages.
Macapantar said he didn't see any demand letter but added he was "validating" the information.
The police and military have not talked to Tansiung since his release or read the letter from the kidnappers.
Oyao earlier asked the police and military to stop their rescue operations, saying efforts are underway to seek the safe release of the remaining hostages.
Oyao said they would stick to the "no-ransom" policy of the government when they negotiate the release of the hostages.
Instead of money, Oyao, being the general manager of the cash-strapped electric cooperative, is offering the continuous electrification of villages in Tuburan and Tipo-Tipo towns, where the abductors could be staying, that are still not being served by Baselco.
Oyao said they have no money, citing the huge debt that Baselco still owes to the National Power Corporation (Napocor). The debt started in 1998 and has since accumulated to a total P577,695,949.99.
He said Basilan Vice Governor Alrashid Sakalahul is helping Baselco officials convince the kidnappers to free the remaining hostages without payment of ransom. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (July 1, 2008 issue)
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