By NONOY LACSON
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Moro National Liberation Front chairman Yusop Jikiri yesterday revealed that the Abu Sayyaf Group will demand P30 million from the employer of the five kidnapped Indonesian fishermen for their immediate release.
Jikiri said the MNLF has received reliable information that the ASG will demand P30 million from the fishing company in Malaysia where the five fishermen are working.
“We learned from our field intelligence operatives that the ASG plans to demand P30 million from the employer of the five fishermen in Malaysia but their demand has not been made public yet,” Jikiri said.
“That ransom demand is ridiculous and impractical. For me, I won’t give in to their demand and would prefer rescue operations instead for a ransom pay.”
The five Indonesians were kidnapped by the ASG in Tambisan, Malaysia, an island in the Sulu Sea, while fishing last Jan. 16.
The military identified the kidnap victims as Arsyad Dahlan, 41, skipper of the fishing boat; and fishermen Arizal Kastamiran, 29; La Baa, 32; Riswanto Hayano, 27; and Edi Lawalopo, 53.
Jikiri said the ASG is holding the five fishermen captive in the forested boundary of Patikul and Indanan in Sulu.
Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said they have deployed additional soldiers in Patikul and part of Indanan for a rescue operation.
Jikiri was in this city yesterday on his way to Jolo, Sulu where the MNLF is holding camp after they signed a peace agreement with the government in 1996.
He said the MNLF anti-kidnapping and terrorism task force which he organized is closely monitoring the activities of the group to enable the military to launch a rescue operation to free the five fishermen.
They are heavily guarded by their captors and we are closely monitoring their movement to enable the military to mount a successful rescue operation, Jikiri said.