Charges filed vs kidnappers of 2 Chinese factory workers

MANILA, Philippines – Police filed criminal charges against the kidnappers of two Chinese working in a plywood factory who remain in captivity in Basilan.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said a case of kidnapping and serious illegal detention was filed against Mujahid Nasirin, Amilhusin Insoh, Daniel Musa Omar Musa, Purudji Indama, Moton Indama, Hud Limaya, Adam Mingkong, Muktar Abon, Ismael Sakkam, Nasser Butug, and 17 others identified thru their aliases and several unidentified suspects.

Verzosa said the charges were filed before the Basilan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Isabela City docketed under I.S.# XIV-02-INQ-09K-0130 to 0132.

The PNP chief said the charges stemmed from the kidnapping of Michael Tan, Oscar Dee, alias Oscar Lu and Mark Singson on Nov. 10 in Basilan Hi-Tech Woodcraft Industry, Barangay Townsite, Maluso, Basilan Province.

The victims remain in captivity as of press time.

Verzosa said that joint elements of the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines are conducting hot pursuit operations in Sumisip and Tipo-tipo in Basilan.

Armed men said to be Abu Sayyaf bandits seized the three during an attack on a plywood factory in Basilan last Tuesday.

The abduction took place several hours after Abu Sayyaf bandits executed hostage Gabriel Cañizares in the island province of Sulu.

Authorities said the plywood workers were seized by 20 gunmen that barged into the compound of Hi-Tech Plywood Factory in Sitio Butong.

Demand for ransom

In related developments, the suspected Abu Sayyaf militants reportedly demanded P6 million up to P10 million ransom for the release of the three captive laborers, including two Chinese nationals, held in the mountains of Sumisip, according to the employer.

Jorge Tan, a Chinese national operating the Hi-Tech Plywood Co. based in Maluso town, however, said the information he received was unverified as he has yet to hear directly from the kidnappers.

Tan revealed the information after he was invited by the Basilan Crisis Management Committee (CMC) chairman Vice Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul, Police Director Felizardo Serapio of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation (DIPO) and Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, chief of Naval Force Western Mindanao and Task Force Trillium.

Tan said he has not heard yet of the condition of the hostages.

Tan said that Bo Shung and Zi Shun were visiting relatives from Fukien, China and claimed that the victims have proper documents in coming to the country and belied reports that the victims came in illegally.

Tan said they have not brought the case to the Chinese embassy to ask for assistance but claimed the embassy have already called him up and asked questions regarding the incident.

No ransom policy

Reportedly, authorities have started establishing contacts with the elders of the 11 suspects in last week’s kidnapping of two Chinese nationals and a factory worker in Basilan to convince them to help pressure the kidnappers into setting the captives free.

Chief Superintendent Paisal Umpa, director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police, has clarified, however, that there would be no direct negotiation with the kidnappers now holding Michael Tan, Oscar Lu and their subordinate-worker, Mark Singson, captive.

“All kinds of tactical pressures are now being exerted by the ARMM police on these kidnappers,” Umpa said.

Umpa said ARMM’s regional governor, Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, issued yesterday a directive to Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar and all mayors in Basilan to persuade relatives of the kidnappers to help work out the release of the three captives.

“But the ARMM governor has expli­citly emphasized in his directive that efforts to secure the release of the captives would strictly be parallel with the government’s “no-ransom policy” in dealing with kidnappers. The effort to secure their release is being done under the auspices of Gov. Jum Akbar,” Umpa said.  –-Cecille Suerte Felipe and Roel Pareño (The Philippine Star) with John Unson