Rufus to MILF: Help!

By NITZ ARANCON  with SHIELA MAE BUTLIG

Correspondents

REP. Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District over the weekend called on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to help in ongoing efforts to secure the release if not, rescue the two coast guards from this city and Misamis Oriental, and a barangay chairman who were snatched by the dreaded Abu Sayyaf in Aliguay Island off Dapitan City in May.

As local officials expressed concerns following last week’s confirmation that the coast guards and barangay chairman who went missing turned out to be captives in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf, Mayor Oscar Moreno said he was already in touch with people who can help in bringing the hostages back to their families.

Rodriguez, who chairs a House ad hoc committee that is pushing for a law that would create a Bangsamoro territory being sought by the MILF, said the Front could play an important role in efforts to rescue or secure the release of the hostages.

The captives––Coast Guard Seaman 2nd class Gringo Villaruz of Tagoloan Misamis Oriental, Seaman 1st class Rod Alain Daba Pagaling of Zone 10, Upper Carmen, this city, and barangay chairman Robert Bulagao of Aliguay, Zamboanga del Norte––were seized by the Abu Sayyaf in May 4.

The hostages were first thought to be missing since May until last week when a three-minute video recording of them begging for help was posted and went viral on social media.

Rodriguez called on the National Police to start an no-nonsense investigation into the abduction. Moreno, for his part, said he was saddened over reports about the abduction, and added he has also talked with police and military officials in an effort to ensure the safety of the captives.

But Moreno said the government, just like in other countries, was firm about its noansom policy. The captors have demanded P3 million each for the coast guards, and P4 million for the barangay chairman. “The government will never give in to any ransom demand. You can never hear a government saying that, wherever you are in the world,” said Moreno.

But he hinted that he has contacted people who, he thinks, can help in securing the release of the captives. “I have a different approach, and you won’t hear me announcing it. But I am connecting with people who might be of help,” Moreno said.

He said the May abduction is now a regional concern, and “we have made representations with the proper authorities to express this.”

Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano reacted this way:“Aguy, Ginoo ko, di makaya!” Emano said the government has a strict policy against ransom payments, and there was no way the capitol could release funds to help the families of the captives raise the ransom.

Emano said he and the capitol would help in securing the release of hostages every way he could except give in to the ransom demand. “Motabang ko kung unsa akong makaya.”

Councilor Ramon Tabor, chairman of the city council’s public safety committee, said he was certain the captives’ families would not be able to pay up. “Let’s pray that they would be freed,” Tabor said.

Meanwhile, Misamis Oriental Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez called on the police and the military to exert more effort to rescue or secure the release of the hostages, adding he still had no idea how the capitol could help.

Pelaez said the provincial board would likely pass a resolution today to ask the police and the military to step up their efforts to save the two coast guards and the barangay chairman.

“We are so worried about this,” he said, adding that the incident would hurt the tourism sector in Zamboanga del Norte, and even Northern Mindanao.

Authorities confirmed late last week that the Abu Sayyaf has threatened to behead Villaruz, Pagaling, and barangay chairman Bulagao.

SM1 Pagaling’s sister Joy confirmed that one of the captives in the video is his younger brother. She said the abductors called her family up on Wednesday to inform them that the video has been uploaded with a threat that the victims would be beheaded unless they paid the ransom.

The video showed the captives blindfolded, half-naked, and taking turns in begging the government for help while their masked captors stood behind them. One even held a machete against the neck of Pagaling as he begged the government and President Aquino for help.

“They will kill us; have pity on us. Have pity on our families; help us,” said SM2 Villaruz during his turn. He said their captors were serious about the threat to behead them.