Kin appeal for help as Abu Sayyaf sets deadline
The family of one of the four construction workers held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) sought for help as the terrorists reportedly set a ransom deadline on Thursday at 3p.m.
Jessie Vailoces, father of one of the ASG captives Jayson Vailoces, said that the Abu Sayyaf was asking for a ransom of P1 million per head for the four kidnap victims who were snatched in Sulu last July 15.
READ: Suspected Abu Sayyaf men kidnap 4 construction workers in Sulu
“Ang hinihingi nila P1 million bawat isa. Mahirap lang kami, driver lang ako. Yung anak ko pintor sa Jolo, sumama lang sa bayaw niya (They are demanding P1 million each. We are poor, I’m just an ordinary driver. My son is a laborer in Jolo, he just came along to his brother-in-law),” Jessie told INQUIRER.net.
“Sana yung gobyerno tumulong sila. Pag hindi daw nabayaran tatanggalan ng ulo (I hope the government helps. If the ransom would not be paid the victims will be beheaded),” he said.
Vailoces, along with Joel Adanza, Felimon Cordero, Edmundo Ramos, all from Brgy. Tumaga in Zamboanga City, were painters hired to work at Kawmpang Elementary School in Patikul town.
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said they could not confirm if the deadline for the four workers was set on Thursday, but said that they are doing all their efforts to rescue all captives of the Abu Sayyaf.
There are remaining 23 hostages of the Abu Sayyaf—15 foreign and eight Filipinos.
“It’s public knowledge na their intent is to get ransom at pag walang ransom pinupugutan ng ulo (and if there would be no ransom, they would be beheaded). Dahil no ransom policy kami, relentless ang security and operations namin,” he said.
Sobejana said that two Marines were killed and one was wounded while conducting security operations at Sitio Langhub, Brgy. Pang, Kalingalan Caluang early Thursday.
Five members of the Abu Sayyaf were killed during the operations. JPV
