Abu Sayyaf kidnap victim reported among those killed in battle

Abu Sayyaf group. AP FILE PHOTO

ZAMBOANGA CITY – An Abu Sayyaf captive was reportedly among those killed in a clash between government security forces and the bandit group in Sulu on Thursday, another kidnap victim told his wife by phone on Friday.

Annaliza Linggayan told reporters here that her husband, Remigio, called her up following Thursday’s firefight in Patikul and claimed that fellow hostage Joselito Gonzales was among those killed.

The authorities could not confirm the claim but they said seven soldiers and 10 bandits were killed.

Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said he could not confirm if Gonzales had indeed been killed. He said his only information came from the wives.

Hataman also said he believed the Abu Sayyaf would not let any of its captives to be killed. He cited the case of a previous victim, who had been reported dead many times but later walked out of captivity alive.

“They are after money so they would not let the victims die just like that,” he said.

Senior Supt. Abraham Orbita, Sulu police director, said that as of Friday, they had no confirmation that Gonzales indeed had died in the clash.

“Jong-jong (Joselito Gonzales) is dead. He was hit yesterday at the height of the encounter between the Abu Sayyaf and Marines,” Annaliza quoted her husband as saying.

She said her husband had the liberty to use his cellphone as he has been relaying the Abu Sayyaf’’s P7-million ransom demand to their families since being kidnapped in Indanan, Sulu, on June 5.

Linggayan and Gonzales worked as plumbers for Sulu Vice Gov. Abdusakur Tan.

Annaliza said that according to her husband, he, Gonzales and several other victims were used as human shields by the bandit group during the firefight.

Aside from her husband, Annaliza said, she was told that there were other victims when the clash took place, including four “Chinese-looking persons.”

She said her husband saw Gonzales fall after being hit in the belly.

Gonzales’ wife, Rose, said her family would “believe the reports once I see the body of my husband.”

But “we are very sad about the news,” she said. With a report from Liza Jocson, Inquirer Mindanao