BASILAN Governor Jum Akbar called on residents of his province to rally behind the police and military authorities in their campaign against kidnappers.
Akbar’s plea came after the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) decided to launch operations to rescue two Chinese nationals who are still in the hands of the Basilan-based kidnappers.
The governor said the people of Basilan can help the authorities by providing information about the kidnappers’ whereabouts. This, she said, could hasten the rescue operations.
She said kidnappers are menace to the society and should be brought before the bar of justice.
Akbar, however, advised the police and military troops to take into consideration the safety of the hostages in pursuing the suspects.
Still in the hands of the kidnappers are Zi Shun Lu, alias Oscar Lu, 51; and Bo Shung Tan, alias Michael Tan, 27, both from Guangzhou, China.
The two Chinese nationals were kidnapped last November 10, 2009 from a plywood firm in Maluso town, together with a Basilan native who was killed a month later.
Akbar said kidnappings in the region will only be stopped if the kidnappers are put behind bars.
“The end of kidnappings would attract investors like the plywood firm that provides employment to Basileños,” she said.