The Mindanao Peoples Caucus issued a statement early Tuesday morning condemning “the abduction of our chairman, Professor Octavio Dinampo” along with the television journalist Ces Drilon of ABS-CBN and her crew, and appealed “to their abductors to immediately release them unconditionally.”

The group described Dinampo as “a credible and well-respected leader from Sulu and a leading peace advocate in Mindanao” who “has been at the forefront of peace advocacy, good governance and relief and rehabilitation efforts in the conflict affected areas in Mindanao.”

Dinampo is a convener of the group Bantay Ceasefire and “has served as the link of Sulu to the outside world, having developed good relations among civil society and the donor community in rehabilitating the war-ravaged communities in Sulu,” it added.

The statement added: “We appeal to the law enforcers and the military to exhaust all peaceful and traditional methods of negotiation in working out the release of the kidnap victims. We also call on our religious leaders from both the Christian and Muslim faiths to extend whatever possible support. Let this crisis see the strength of our solidarity and dialogue as brothers and sisters in Mindanao.

“We wish to extend our prayers and support to the families and loved ones of the kidnap victims. Rest assured that Mindanao Peoples Caucus will mobilize its Bantay Ceasefire volunteers, peace networks and allies especially among the grassroots to reclaim the freedom of our Chairman Prof. Octa, Ces Drilon and her companions. Finally, we all join our hands and ask God, Allah and Magbabaya to bless and grant our prayers.”