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ISABELA
CITY, Basilan—The designated negotiators are working
doubly hard to secure the safe release of the four
power-firm employees who are still being held hostage by
the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan province.
This, as
the bandits extended the deadline for Basilan Electric
Cooperative (Baselco) to produce a P1-million ransom in
exchange for the hostages’ release.
Earlier,
the Abu Sayyaf bandits gave Baselco until Tuesday to
produce P1 million, otherwise they would raise this to
P10 million; and would start “sacrificing” the hos-tages
should Baselco continue to defy their demand.
On
Tuesday, the Abu Sayyaf captors extended the deadline
until Friday.
It was
not known if new conditions were set by the Abu Sayyaf
should Baselco fail to meet their new deadline.
Senior
Supt. Salik Macapantar, Basilan police director,
disclosed on Wednesday that there appear to be good
developments in the negotiations for the release of the
hostages.
Macapantar did not elaborate, saying they are not in any
way involved in negotiations.
Baselco
employees Emilberto Singson, Alberto Singson, Paul
Herwig
and Ian Herwig were taken hostage on June 26 in the
hinterlands of Tuburan.
Their
companion, Ronnie Tansiung, was freed several hours
after on the same day they were seized in barangay
Sinulatan, Tuburan.
The
military and police forces have given Baselco a free
hand to negotiate for the safe release of the hostages
after Baselco general manager Alfredo Oyao requested for
a halt in the rescue operation.
The
Crisis Management Committee has designated Masid Yacub,
Baselco director for Tuburan town, and Nidjal Indahid,
director for Tipo-Tipo municipality, to stand as
negotiators in seeking the safe release of the
hostages.
Macapantar said the designated negotiators are trying to
persuade the kidnappers to free the hostages unharmed
and without payment of ransom.
Oyao
earlier said they will stick to the no-ransom policy. |
