Howitzer Blasts, Tuesday “Deadline” Raise Tensions In Sulu Abduction Area

Written on Sunday, June 15th, 2008 at 9:40 pm | by Ding G. Gagelonia

A journalist based in Jolo plus reports of a major foreign wire service and GMATV News on line at past 8 pm Sunday all confirm that tensions have risen in the upland areas of Indanan, Sulu in the vicinity of Mount Tumatangis over military military cannon firings, troop movements, and the use of remote-controlled drone surveillance flights.

This is the same vicinity in the Patikul-Indanan Sulu corridor where Drilon and her companions were last seen 8 days ago.

Agence France France Presse and GMA News are both reporting, as confirmed by my own source that military howitzers cannons unleashed about one dozen cannon rounds in the direction of Mt. Tumatangis between 3 a.m. Sunday here in Manila.

The GMA News report meanwhile says “it was unknown if the early morning assault was a prelude to the rescue of the hostages. Later in the day, more soldiers arrived in Sulu on board the Philippine Navy ship BRP Bacolod City.”

After pre-dawn the howitzer barrage “truckloads of troops began moving from a Jolo military base,” said the separate AFP wire report.

Jolo radio journalist Zeny Masong told this writer, “we were jolted by the sound of the explosions but when we asked the military they said it was nothing.”

But Masong confirmed the firing “appeared to be directed at the uphills” referring to Mt. Tumatangis which is some 20 kilometers from downtown Jolo.”

Masong told us, “we are hearing that the abductors could be moving their captors from place to place.”

Reacting to the military actions, Indanan mayor Alvarez Isnaji told reporters the firing of cannons “is putting the lives of the victims in danger.”

Isnaji said the kidnappers were also alarmed by a US spy plane flying over Sulu since Saturday. “They are alarmed by this spy plane which is probably on a reconnaissance mission,” he said.

He said the kidnappers were getting restless over the failure of Drilon’s family to resolve the crisis. He said the captors gave an ultimatum until Tuesday for the victims’ families to secure the release of the hostages.

“We don’t know what they are up to and what they are asking from the family of Drilon, but they gave me an ultimatum until Tuesday to resolve this problem. The kidnappers wanted the family of Drilon to comply with their agreement,” Isnaji said.

“Ces Drilon keeps on telling me to fast track the talks so they can come out safely,” Isnaji said, adding that Drilon’s family must closely coordinate with him in their negotiations.

In yet another disturbing admission. the Mindanao Examiner’s latest report from Jolo quotes negotiators Alvarez Isnaji and Lady Ann Sahidulla, Sulu deputy governor as saying, “this is dragging too long because we haven’t yet met the amount of money demanded by the kidnappers.”

Both maintained that no ransom was being discussed or had been paid but only money “for board and lodging” of the captives.

Whatever the euphemism it now is clear ransom payment negotiators are the order of the day in the Sulu abduction.

Sahidullah revealed as much as she addressed a stated directly to the alleged Abu Sayyaf kidnappers:“We appeal to you to free the innocent victims. You are not only giving our province a bad name, but the entire country as well,” she said.

Then Sahidullah admitted: Drilon’s family had told her they “could only afford P2 million.”

As the night deepens in the Philippines this Sunday it is unclear how the crisis will stand as the working week begins.

The longer the resolution of this standoff takes the pressure will undeniably increase for authorities to look at their remaining hard, and difficult options.

The clock is ticking and we also know those assessing this episode from a wider field of vision are looking at another calendar: the upcoming ARMM elections in August where hostage negotiator Alvarez is one of seven candidates.

Another relevant footnote, this time with a Manila dateline: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is scheduled to make her official working visit to Washington D.C. on June 23-24 for talks with President George W. Bush.

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About The Author: Ding G. Gagelonia is a journalist of some 30 years, having worked in both radio and TV news and public affairs since his teens. Ding Gagelonia now writes independently and does corporate communications consulting. He has two kids, Felice and Luis. His journalist blog is at midfield.wordpress.com

Filed Under National News, Politics

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