Ransom lures militants to join gang holding Ces Drilon

SULU, Philippines - More than a dozen militants have reportedly joined the Abu Sayyaf group that is holding a kidnapped Philippine television news crew and a university professor on the southern island of Sulu. Many of those who joined the kidnappers were lured by huge ransom the Abu Sayyaf is demanding in exchange for the release of ABS-CBN newscaster Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, including their guide, Professor Octavio Dinampo, of the Mindanao State University. They were kidnapped on June 8 in Maimbung town while on their way to interview a senior militant leader Radulan Sahiron, who has allegedly sent surrender feelers. Militants have freed late Thursday driver Angelo Valderama in the village of Sinumaan in Talipao town. Intelligence reports said many of those who joined the kidnappers were new and old members of the Abu Sayyaf group tied to al-Qaeda and Jema’ah Islamiyah. It said the number of the Abu Sayyaf is expected to increase as negotiations for the release of the hostages drag on. Military and police authorities fear any ransom paid to the Abu Sayyaf could be used to purchase weapons and fund terrorism campaign in the southern Philippines. The kidnappers were reported to be demanding as much as P50 million, but ABS-CBN said it will not pay ransom to the Abu Sayyaf. But Indanan town Mayor Alvarez Isnaji, who negotiated for the release of the cameraman, said he paid a few hundred thousand pesos to the kidnappers with some of the money coming from Sulu Vice Gov. Lady Ann Sahidulla. Isnaji said the money paid to the Abu Sayyaf was for "board and lodging" and not ransom. "We are waiting for the kidnappers to call us so we can resume negotiations for the safe release of the hostages. We pray that this crisis will end soon," he said on Saturday. The Abu Sayyaf cut off all communication lines to the negotiators for a still unknown reason. But military sources said the kidnappers were constantly moving from one hideout to another to avoid detection. Sahidulla is helping Isnaji secure the freedom of the remaining hostages. She appealed to the kidnappers on Saturday to free Drilon's group. "We appeal to you to free the innocent victims. You are not only giving our province and bad name, but the entire country as well," she said. Sulu Gov. Abdulsakur Tan, head of the local crisis management committee, and families of the hostages, including the ABS-CBN, have earlier made a similar appeal. Isnaji said the kidnappers were also negotiating directly with Drilon's family, but he did not give details of the progress of the talks. The kidnappers reportedly demanded ransom between P10 million to P50 million. And that P5 million was allegedly paid to the gang for Valderama's release, other sources said. Media reports also said that P2 million was paid to the Abu Sayyaf, but Isnaji denied this and at the same time criticized Amilasan Amilbajar, an assistant of outgoing Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza, who was allegedly the source of the news. Dureza has been named as new Press Secretary and former military chief Hermogenes Esperon will take over as new Peace adviser. The kidnappers have selected Isnaji to negotiate for the release of the hostages. Isnaji is also one of seven candidates running for the regional governor in the Muslim autonomous region elections in August. Police identified the kidnappers Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad, Gafur Jumdail and Umbra Jumdail, also known as Dr. Abu. Parad and Jumdail are notorious Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by Washington and Manila for terrorism and kidnappings-for-ransom. The two are also believed coddling Jema’ah Islamiyah bomber Dulmatin and Umar Patek, tagged as behind the 2002 deadly bombings in the resort island of Bali, which killed more than 200 mostly Australian holidaymakers, and in several attacks in Jakarta. The Abu Sayyaf group was also tagged as behind the kidnapping early this year of Maria Rosalie Lao, 58, a rice trader in Jolo town. It was also behind the kidnappings of 21 people, mostly Asian and European tourists from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan in 2001 and three US citizens and more than dozen Filipinos in the posh Dos Palmas resort in the central Philippine island of Palawan. Last year, the group kidnapped seven people in Sulu and beheaded them after their families failed to pay up ransom. The US has offered up to $5 million bounty and Manila as much as P10 million rewards for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Jumdail, for their capture – dead or alive. - Al Jacinto, GMANews.TV