Abu Sayyaf captives urge gov’t to save them from beheading

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – An alleged faction of the Abu Sayyaf has threatened to behead a Dapitan City barangay (village) chair and two Coast Guard personnel it took as captives in May.

In a nearly four-minute video posted on the Facebook account of a certain Kupal Lord, three blindfolded men without shirts were seen kneeling and being guarded by eight armed men, whose faces were covered with scarves or hoods.

It was not certain when and where the video was taken, except that the background showed thick foliage.

One of the blindfolded men, who said he was Rod Pagaling, then started issuing an appeal for the government to bail them out or they would be killed.

Pagaling was among the two Coast Guard personnel that suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits snatched from Dapitan City, along with Aliguay barangay chair Rodolfo Boligao.

The Abu Sayyaf reportedly wanted P10 million for their release.

Pagaling addressed his appeal to Philippine Coast Guard chief Rodolfo Isorena and President Aquino.

“We are urging our government to help us because they will kill us,” the man who said he was Pagaling, said.

Another captive, identifying himself as Gringo Villaluz, Pagaling’s colleague, said they were hoping that help would come very soon.

“Or they will behead us,” he said.

PCG Zamboanga District head Jimmy Berbo, who saw the video, confirmed that the two men were Pagaling and Villauz.

“Those two in the video are our colleagues but I cannot comment further on their case. It is already handled by our national office,” Berbo said.

In his appeal, Boligao called on Dapitan City Mayor Rosalina Jalosjos, Representative Fredrick Seth Jalosjos and Romeo Jalosjos to help them.

“Have pity on us, please help us,” he said.

After all hostages had issued the appeal, one of the kidnappers then spoke and said unless their demands were met, “we will behead all of them.”