Robredo finds proof Jordanian journalist, 2 Pinoys are with Abu Sayyaf

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron is holding Jordanian journalist and his two Filipino companions, according to more certain Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Robredo told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone, on Sunday, that they ascertained that Sahiron’s men have been holding Baker Atyani, the Dubai-based bureau chief of the Al-Arabiya News Network, and his two Filipino crew Ramelito Vela and Rolando Letrero, after Vela called his wife twice on Saturday.

“We got the impression based on the calls made by one of the Filipino captives that he got the impression they were taken as hostages and he wanted to speak and ask help from the company where they are connected with,” Robredo said.

Vela and Letrero work for the Manila-based SFX Production House.

But Robredo could still not say if there was a demand for ransom.

“We cannot say at this time, but our impression for the said call may have something to do with asking for something from his company, parang may gustong hingi-in (it seems there is something sought) but we cannot just conclude at this time.”

Earlier, Robredo would not declare the three as kidnapping victims, saying “the Filipino employees can easily call and sometimes the call would last for 30 minutes.”

But on Saturday morning, Robredo admitted that Atyani, Vela and Letrero were indeed taken as hostages by a faction of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

This, after the calls made by Vela to his wife “asking his wife to meet the principals of his company and ask help.”

Robredo said they wanted to know who arranged Atyani’s interview with the Abu Sayyaf outside of Jolo town “because the earlier agreement was for the interview to be conducted in Jolo town. It turned out the interview was in Patikul.”

Atyani was supposed to meet with Yasser Igasan, the alleged new leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group in the province.

Igasan is a sub-leader of Sahiron, according to Robredo.

Robredo said aside from Atyani, Vela and Letrero, Sahiron’s group is also holding Indian national Biju Kolara Veetil, who was kidnapped on June 22, 2011.

Robredo said the government’s line of communication has always been open to ensure the safe release of the three. He, however, stressed that keeping the lines open would not mean government would entertain conditions that might be imposed by those holding Atyani’s group.

As early as June 15, former kidnap victim Prof. Octavio Dinampo said that Atyani’s group was kidnapped by Sahiron’s group, but this was dismissed by Robredo as baseless.

Dinampo’s sources in Sulu were able to trace the white multicab that fetched the group from the Sulu State College Hostel on June 12, to a relative of Sahiron.

“It is only now that the DILG learned that there was a kidnapping. It took 13 days for them to determine that there is a group here that pretends to be a jihadist gangster. The demand is P50 Million as relayed to the family of Atyani,” Dinampo said.

“It’s clear that Atyani’s identity as a Muslim does not hold water in Raddulan Sahiron’s jihad,” Dinampo said.

Dinampo was among those kidnapped along with television news anchor Ces Drilon and her two crew members in 2008.

“Robredo may have thought that by blaming Atyani (for what happened to him), kidnappings in Sulu will vanish subsequently. I believe it’s time for the DILG as a whole to take responsibility for most of our miseries in Sulu,” he added.

Dinampo said Sahiron’s group has also been holding Swiss national Lorenzo Vinciguerra and Engr. Carlos Tee, a Jolo airport engineer.

Vinciguerra and Dutch Ewold Horn were kidnapped in Tawi-Tawi in February. Dinampo, however, does not have any information about Horn’s whereabouts.

As early as March, there were reports that the two Europeans had been transferred by the Abu Sayyaf to Sulu.

Marine Col. Jose Johriel Cenabre, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said “The two European tourists from Tawi-tawi were never spotted here.”/INQUIRER