Recent Kidnapping Issue In Mindanao

[Cossack25A1]

More Foreigners Kidnapped in Southern Philippines
Law and order continues to be a problem in the country’s south.

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By Luke Hunt
September 24, 2015
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As Philippine president Benigno Aquino III begins to pack his bags for retirement and considers his legacy, one outstanding issue remains unresolved: a lasting solution to the civil conflict and the law and order mess it has created in the country’s troubled south.

The latest kidnapping of three foreigners and a Filipina by the Abu Sayyaf, a militant Islamist group, was a case in point.

Two Japanese tourists had bravely attempted to the thwart the kidnappings, according to reports. They did not succeed and police believe Canadians John Ridsel, 68, and Robert Hall, 50, and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, 56, were targeted as opposed to being taken at random.

The Filipina, identified as Teresita Flor, 40, was understood to be the partner of one of the Canadians. They were abducted late Monday from the Holiday Oceanview Samal resort on Samal Island, which was managed by Sekkingstad.

Abductions have become commonplace over the past 15-plus years, ever since Abu Sayyaf leader Galib Andang, also known as Commander Robot – yes, that was his real nom du guerre – ordered the kidnapping of foreign tourists from the deluded safety of holiday resorts in nearby East Malaysia.

Robot and his cohorts had attempted to legitimize their nasty operations – that includes the beheadings of Western tourists – by entwining the Abu Sayyaf with a broader jihad and an array of different rebel groups fighting for a degree of ethnic autonomy in the Southern Philippines.

However, their support fornow defunct Al-Qaeda affiliate Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the violent nature of Abu Sayyaf attacks earned them comparisons with the thugs and pirates who notoriously ply the Sulu Sea.

Robot’s death in a prison riot was roundly applauded by many politicians and police.

Police believe the Abu Sayyaf could be involved with the latest kidnappings. But there were also reports that a note from the National People’s Army (NPA) was found, reading “Justice for our commander.” The NPA has run a communist insurgency in the area for decades.

Authorities are attempting to blockade Samal Island.

Three navy ships have been sent into the area, where the Abu Sayyaf attempted another kidnapping 14 years ago. It was a botched operation that cost the lives of three security men who fought back.

Not so late Monday evening, when eleven men posing as tourists and brandishing weapons were seen on CCTV chatting with their targets before the abduction. They reportedly spoke English and Tagalog.

Despite the region’s vicious history, Capt. Alberto Caber told journalists the resort was considered safe given its proximity to the provincial city of Davao.

He said there were many lawless elements in Mindanao, but it was not clear which group was behind the latest abductions.

The Abu Sayyaf are still holding hostages from previous kidnappings.

Australian Warren Rodwell was freed after 15 months in captivity in March 2013 after being kidnapped by gunmen who identified themselves as members of the Abu Sayyaf. His release was secured after a $2 million ransom was demanded. The Australian government says it does not pay ransoms. It was never confirmed whether a third party had met the kidnapper’s demands.

Another two Westerners were also abducted in 2012 while bird-watching. Swiss national Lorenzo Vinciguerra escaped while Dutchman Ewold Horn remains in captivity.

Rodwell’s homecoming was seen as a victory for Aquino, whose administration has won respect within international diplomatic circles for its good governance after the corrupt decade of his predecessors, Gloria Arroyo and Joseph Estrada.

Aquino was at the Holiday Oceanview Samal resort for meetings just last week. His spokesman Herminio Coloma told journalists the president was monitoring developments and tried to stress that the authorities were doing their best.

“The investigation is in full swing,” Coloma said.

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More Foreigners Kidnapped in Southern Philippines | The Diplomat
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Worse case scenario, the MILF, MNLF and/or BIFF could get involved and probably "aid" the ASG groups. So much for the Bangsamoro deal... it indirectly "disarmed" the PH military!

 

[Aepsilons]

Worse case scenario, the MILF, MNLF and/or BIFF could get involved and probably "aid" the ASG groups. So much for the Bangsamoro deal... it indirectly "disarmed" the PH military!

Pertinent points to consider and should be addressed in succeeding policy meetings.

Aquino was at the Holiday Oceanview Samal resort for meetings just last week. His spokesman Herminio Coloma told journalists the president was monitoring developments and tried to stress that the authorities were doing their best.

As a kind counsel, I think what the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard should focus next is on increasing patrol in their southern territorial waters. We can agree that the waters between Philippines - Indonesia -Malaysia should be patrolled in greater frequency.

 

[Cossack25A1]

Pertinent points to consider and should be addressed in succeeding policy meetings.




As a kind counsel, I think what the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard should focus next is on increasing patrol in their southern territorial waters. We can agree that the waters between Philippines - Indonesia -Malaysia should be patrolled in greater frequency.

The first phase of the PH military modernization is in dealing with local insurgency, thus most of the Army equipment planned to be procured under this phase are APCs and infantry equipments. This is also where ASEAN should talk about terrorism issues as terrorist groups knows no borders and could escape to a nearby country.

The question is are the three governments willing to have joint-operations to quell such groups and tackle this kind of situation?

 

[Aepsilons]

The first phase of the PH military modernization is in dealing with local insurgency, thus most of the Army equipment planned to be procured under this phase are APCs and infantry equipments. This is also where ASEAN should talk about terrorism issues as terrorist groups knows no borders and could escape to a nearby country.

The question is are the three governments willing to have joint-operations to quell such groups and tackle this kind of situation?

I believe that the interaction between Nur Misuari-Manila and Kual Lumpur is a clear message, my friend, that entrusting too much on foreign powers for cooperation is a moot agenda when it comes to dealing with terrorist threats. These are things that can be manipulated to suit any government's foreign policy agendas. The Philippines should conclude a territorial agreement with Malaysia as it had done with Indonesia in recent years. But in regards to patrol and judicious annihilation of terrorism? That should be the priority and responsibility of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

A nation the size of the Philippines, over 105 million, should not have any problems in dealing with terrorism by its security forces. It just requires Manila to invest on political capital to actually implement necessary policies. Now about the Bangsamoro Basic Law? I think it must be promulgated in order to bring confidence to the some 5 million Muslim minority in Mindanao. This is how you will get them to cooperate and obey the laws of the country.

As for splinter groups of the AS, and the MNLF/ MILF, well, i think you know my position on them. You cannot deal with those who will not sign peace accords. You must deal with the rest of the cooperative muslim minority in Mindanao, yes. But for ultra seccessionist groups like AS? Their total Eradication is the only way.

 

[Cossack25A1]

I believe that the interaction between Nur Misuari-Manila and Kual Lumpur is a clear message, my friend, that entrusting too much on foreign powers for cooperation is a moot agenda when it comes to dealing with terrorist threats. These are things that can be manipulated to suit any government's foreign policy agendas. The Philippines should conclude a territorial agreement with Malaysia as it had done with Indonesia in recent years. But in regards to patrol and judicious annihilation of terrorism? That should be the priority and responsibility of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

A nation the size of the Philippines, over 105 million, should not have any problems in dealing with terrorism by its security forces. It just requires Manila to invest on political capital to actually implement necessary policies. Now about the Bangsamoro Basic Law? I think it must be promulgated in order to bring confidence to the some 5 million Muslim minority in Mindanao. This is how you will get them to cooperate and obey the laws of the country.

As for splinter groups of the AS, and the MNLF/ MILF, well, i think you know my position on them. You cannot deal with those who will not sign peace accords. You must deal with the rest of the cooperative muslim minority in Mindanao, yes. But for ultra seccessionist groups like AS? Their total Eradication is the only way.

The main threat about the Bangsamoro deal is that some aspects of the said deal sounds like just a short of non-violent secession. This would have not become an issue had the ARMM have a more competent leadership, or the Philippines adopted a federal system.

The most hardest part in gaining the trust of the 5 million Filipino Muslims is reconciliation due to history.

As for all-out war, we could have opted it but the situation in Mindanao made it worse - the incident in Mamasapano last January shows it as aside from MILF and BIFF, there are armed militias (that are no affiliated with the MILF/BIFF/MNLF) operating and even joined in the killing of 44 PNP-SAF members.

 

[Aepsilons]

The main threat about the Bangsamoro deal is that some aspects of the said deal sounds like just a short of non-violent secession. This would have not become an issue had the ARMM have a more competent leadership, or the Philippines adopted a federal system.

Secession is impossible and unrealistic. There are nearly 22 million people in Mindanao, and about 17 million are Christian while about 5 million are Muslim. They just have to learn to live with each other.

 

[Cossack25A1]

Secession is impossible and unrealistic. There are nearly 22 million people in Mindanao, and about 17 million are Christian while about 5 million are Muslim. They just have to learn to live with each other.

Impossible and unrealistic, but the Zamboanga siege of 2013 shows that there are some willing to do it.

Only winning their hearts and minds without compromising their culture is the only way, but how to implement it is challenging due to some cultural differences, but we do have at least a history about on how to do this, if former Pres. Magsaysay's method in dealing with the former Huks is to be seen as an example.

 

[Aepsilons]

Impossible and unrealistic, but the Zamboanga siege of 2013 shows that there are some willing to do it.

And in the end, my friend, the Philippine Army and Navy proved itself by not only repelling the rebels, but decimated their numbers.

Special thanks to your Army Rangers, Philippine Marines, and Philippine Special Forces Rekon Force.

 

[prima99]

The main threat about the Bangsamoro deal is that some aspects of the said deal sounds like just a short of non-violent secession. This would have not become an issue had the ARMM have a more competent leadership, or the Philippines adopted a federal system.

The most hardest part in gaining the trust of the 5 million Filipino Muslims is reconciliation due to history.

As for all-out war, we could have opted it but the situation in Mindanao made it worse - the incident in Mamasapano last January shows it as aside from MILF and BIFF, there are armed militias (that are no affiliated with the MILF/BIFF/MNLF) operating and even joined in the killing of 44 PNP-SAF members.

Aceh`s conflict resolution experience to serve as global reference: VP - ANTARA News

Dubai (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla believes that the experience gained in resolving the conflict in Aceh can serve as a reference for other countries.

"Many countries want to take a cue from our experience in their efforts to resolve their own conflicts," Kalla stated during a stopover on Wednesday in Dubai en route to the United States to attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

The Indonesian vice president noted that in comparison to other conflicts around the world, the conflict in the Indonesian westernmost province of Aceh was settled completely.

According to Kalla, the experience gaining in resolving the conflict in Aceh has caught the attention of several countries who have sought Indonesias help to settle their conflicts.

Kalla admitted that he had sent a special team, led by former law and human rights minister Hamid Awaludin, to help resolve the conflict in Colombia and some other countries.

"The source of the conflict varies, but most of all, it relates to natural resources, ideological and political matters," the vice president pointed out.

Kalla is representing the government of Indonesia to deliver a speech before the UN General Assembly on September 26, 2015.

 

[powastick]

Threats of beheading receive recently by the families of hostages.

Netizens take up fight for Sandakan hostages' release

PETALING JAYA: Four months after two Malaysians were kidnapped from a seaside restaurant in Sandakan, netizens have taken up the fight to get them released.

An online petition has been initiated to highlight the plight of Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, and Bernard Then Ted Fun, 39, who are being held by Abu Sayyaf militants in Jolo, Southern Philippines.

The “Bring Our Malaysian Hostages Home” plea on ipetitions.com has been signed more than 4000 times since it was created on Tuesday.

“We plead with the Government of Malaysia to speed up the process of securing the release of our fellow Malaysians, and bring them home safely as soon as possible,” read the petition.

“We hope to achieve our target of 100,000 signatures for our petition to be handed to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, with the hope that his personal intervention will expedite the process of securing the freedom of both hostages,” it added.

Thien, 50, and Then, 39, were abducted from the Ocean King seafood restaurant, just 3km from Sandakan, in mid-May.

Thien was the restaurant manager while Then was on a holiday. The health of both hostages are reported to be deteriorating.

Then’s wife Chan Wai See had received a call last month from the kidnappers, who threatened to behead her husband if the ransom was not paid.

Their families are having sleepless nights amid recent reports of beheadings and military raids there.

The Abu Sayyaf beheaded a Filipino village chief on Aug 11 after his family failed to come up with the one million pesos (RM91,220) ransom.

The village chief was kidnapped on May 4 along with two coast guards.

 

[70U63]

I don't like people use petition, it is quite useless. They should ask the home and defense ministry directly.
Also, 1 million peso is nothing.

OK, back on topic. I seriously not sure what take everyone so long to get the hostages release. Malaysia will facing their own shxt in the future due to internal political crisis, and almost ignore (or very dxmn slow) the modernization of our arm force.

Threats of beheading receive recently by the families of hostages.

Netizens take up fight for Sandakan hostages' release

PETALING JAYA: Four months after two Malaysians were kidnapped from a seaside restaurant in Sandakan, netizens have taken up the fight to get them released.

An online petition has been initiated to highlight the plight of Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, and Bernard Then Ted Fun, 39, who are being held by Abu Sayyaf militants in Jolo, Southern Philippines.

The “Bring Our Malaysian Hostages Home” plea on ipetitions.com has been signed more than 4000 times since it was created on Tuesday.

“We plead with the Government of Malaysia to speed up the process of securing the release of our fellow Malaysians, and bring them home safely as soon as possible,” read the petition.

“We hope to achieve our target of 100,000 signatures for our petition to be handed to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, with the hope that his personal intervention will expedite the process of securing the freedom of both hostages,” it added.

Thien, 50, and Then, 39, were abducted from the Ocean King seafood restaurant, just 3km from Sandakan, in mid-May.

Thien was the restaurant manager while Then was on a holiday. The health of both hostages are reported to be deteriorating.

Then’s wife Chan Wai See had received a call last month from the kidnappers, who threatened to behead her husband if the ransom was not paid.

Their families are having sleepless nights amid recent reports of beheadings and military raids there.

The Abu Sayyaf beheaded a Filipino village chief on Aug 11 after his family failed to come up with the one million pesos (RM91,220) ransom.

The village chief was kidnapped on May 4 along with two coast guards.

 

[powastick]

OK, back on topic. I seriously not sure what take everyone so long to get the hostages release. Malaysia will facing their own shxt in the future due to internal political crisis, and almost ignore (or very dxmn slow) the modernization of our arm force.

Mahathir criticize Najib for buying private jets instead of drones to patrol Sabah coast.

 

[WuMaoCleverbot]

‘Malaysians freed for P130M ransom’
June 19, 2016 9:34 pm
by JOEL M. SY EGCO, SENIOR REPORTER

Families and friends of four Malaysian sailors abducted in April this year by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) have paid a ransom of P130 million (RM12 million), but only P100 million has reached the bandit group, highly placed sources said.

The missing amount raised suspicions the rebels may be in cahoots with government officials from Malaysia and the Philippines who may have shared the money among themselves.

According to two highly placed senior Philippine government officials, the payment of ransom was confirmed by Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Hamidi publicly admitted that RM12 million (roughly $2.9 million) was paid for the freedom of brothers Wong Teck Kang, 31, and Teck Chii, 29; their cousin Johnny, 21; and co-worker Wong Hung Sing, 34.

The four, crew of a tugboat, were abducted off Sabah on April 1 by a group of armed men on a speedboat.

They were released in Jolo, Sulu, on June 7 after long-drawn negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf militants led by sub-commander Apo Mike.

“It’s now a burning issue in Malaysia. The ransom payment is already one of their headlines but, surprisingly, it has yet to reach the Philippine media’s attention. We got information that the ASG was incensed after learning from news reports that the money was actually RM12 million, equivalent to P130 million but that only P100 million reached them,” one of the senior officials, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, told The Manila Times.

“The question is, where did the missing money go?” the source asked.

Rumors flew thick that the money was coursed through a special branch of the Malaysian police and given to local officials in Sulu before ending in the hands of the ASG.

“From what we gathered, a local government official in Sulu was involved in the negotiations. It is common knowledge in Malaysia that usually P30 million is paid as ransom for any number of Malaysian victims in the past. The P130 million by far is the highest,” said the other source.

Malaysian media had reported that the Malaysian police vehemently denied claims that ransom was paid, claiming that the ASG was pressured to release the hostages because of a barter trade ban imposed by Malaysia on southern Philippines.

But late last week, the deputy Prime Minister said the RM12 million was not paid to the kidnappers but to “legally and religiously sanctioned” organizations and agencies in the Philippines.

The Malaysian official, however, did not identify which religious organizations got the money.

“I can confirm that the RM12 million that was handed over to the Special Branch was given as a form of contribution to certain organizations in the Philippines,” he told the media on Thursday last week.

According to The Manila Times source, there is credence to allegations by Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin that some local officials, probably including the military, may have colluded with the ASG, which recently beheaded Canadian Robert Hall.

Another Canadian, John Ridsdel, was executed by the group in April when the group’s ransom demand was ignored.

“Why are they so passive? Obviously, there is complicity here. Much of the answers could be provided by the governor of Sulu [Abdusakur Tan],” the source said.

The families of the four sailors had said they had raised RM12 million through donations and had handed the money to the Special Branch of the Malaysian police in Sandakan on May 24.

It was reported that RM9 million was donated by individuals, RM1 million came from the mortgage made on pieces of property and the remaining RM2 million came from the shipping company where the four kidnap victims worked.

Last Friday, Sabah Police Deputy Commissioner Awang Sahari EM Nadzeer was quoted by the Malaysian media as saying that the police had recorded statements from the victims right after they arrived in Kota Kinabalu from Sandakan last Wednesday.

The Abu Sayyaf also kidnapped a number of Indonesian sailors early this year.

On March 26, the terror group snatched the 10 Indonesian sailors off Borneo island.

The kidnap victims were released on May 1 but it was not known if ransom was paid.

On April 15, the bandit group abducted four Indonesian sailors.

The victims were released on May 11.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding several foreign and local hostages, including Hall’s girlfriend Maritess Flor and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad

http://www.manilatimes.net/malaysians-freed-for-p130m-ransom/268798/