ARMED kidnappers of two policewomen shortly after strolling at a famous beach front in Sulu are demanding P5 million for the immediate release of their hostages, police authorities said Wednesday.
Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde said an initial P5 million and P300,000 ransom was being demanded by the kidnappers for the two policewoman but authorities were reluctant to give in to such conditions.
The P5 million was for the immediate release of the policewomen while the P300,000 was for the freedom of the civilians.
Albayalde, who ordered policemen in Sulu to track down the kidnappers, said there had been no deadline set for the compliance of the P5-million ransom.
“We will not give in to such demands. That’s a terror activity, so we do not give in to these kinds of demands to those we consider terrorist,” Albayalde said.
At present, the whereabouts of the kidnap victims remained unknown.
An ongoing negotiations is progressing for the eventual freedom of PO2 Benierose Alvarez and PO1 Dinah Gumahad, both assigned at the PNP Crime Laboratory office based in Calarian in Zamboanga City.
The two policewomen, on board a motorcycle in the company of one Jakosalem Ahamad Blas and Faizal Ahidji, were on their way back from the Quezon beach in Patikul Sulu, when 11 armed men led by Mukir Yada, an identified member of the Abu Sayyaf Group, flagged them down and forcibly took them to an unknown direction.
Albayalde, replying to questions, said the two policewomen were alive, adding “there is proof of life.”
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said three battalions of troops were presently scouring the outskirts of Patikul town searching for the two women cops.
Sobejana believed the kidnappers along with their victims were still in Patikul and recovery efforts were underway.
The Abu Sayyaf Group members are still holding at least 14 hostages who include a European and Vietnamese nationals believed being kept in the hinterlands and coastal areas of Sulu, Basilan.
Meanwhile, the commander of the military’s 403rd Infantry Brigade scored the New People’s Army rebels for their unprovoked assault, which left an unarmed soldier dead and another wounded in Quezon, Bukidnon last April 30. With PNA
Brig. Gen. Eric Vinoya, 403rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the attack demonstrated the rebels’ refusal to allow progress in the area.
“This was a clear manifestation that NPA terrorists were anti-development and resistant to progress. While our soldiers thrive to promote economic growth to insurgency-affected areas, they attacked and ambushed our soldiers in a deceitful manner,” Vinoya said.
The two soldiers from the 88th Infantry Battalion were gathering documents needed for a livelihood project at Sitio Sto. Domingo, Barangay Lumintao, Quezon, Bukidnon when gunned down by the rebels last April 30.
One of the troopers was killed on the spot while his companion was seriously wounded. With PNA