Kidnapped Basilan woman seeks help

By Roel Pareño (The Philippine Star) Updated November 26, 2010

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A 60-year-old businesswoman, being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf, called up the Basilan provincial peace and order council last Wednesday night and sought help for her speedy and safe release, Vice Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul said.

The victim, a retailer, was allowed by her captors to make an appeal as she has begun to fall ill, said Sakalahul, chairman of the crisis management committee and peace and order council.

Judging from her voice, Sakalahul said the victim seemed weak as she appealed to authorities to exhaust all means to hasten her safe release.

The victim also appealed for medicine for her failing health condition, he said.

“The victim was really appealing for her immediate release and we need to do something while appealing to his captors to consider the early freedom of the old and hapless woman,” Sakalahul said.

The Abu Sayyaf bandits, who seized the retailer from a passenger jeepney last Nov. 2, initially demanded P5-million ransom but subsequently lowered the sum to P1 million, even as the victim’s family maintained that they could not raise such an amount.

Meanwhile, Sakalahul said the crisis management committee has yet to determine the fate of an elementary school teacher who was snatched last Nov. 15 along with another teacher who was rescued an hour later.

The kidnappers, who have links with the Abu Sayyaf group led by Nurhassan Jamiri, have not reportedly made any contact with the teacher’s family and the local crisis management committee, causing apprehensions on her safety.