Abu Sayyaf Group - Fund Raising Again

Senator Rodolfo G Biazon today warned that the Abu Sayyaf group is again at its fund raising activities especially kidnap-for-ransom.

"Most vulnerable victims are high profile personalities with the potential of their company coming up with the payment of ransom demands. This had been the mark of previous kidnapping incidents perpetuated by the Abu Sayyaf group."

Biazon cited the Dos Palmas, Palawan kidnapping of 20 hostages which included 3 Americans, Guillermo Sobero and missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham.

"The latest and more serious is the kidnapping of Italian Priest Father Giancarlo Bossi where rescue attempts led to two encounters resulting to the beheading of 10 of the 14 Philippine Marines killed last July 10, 2007 in Tipo-tipo, Basilan and the involvement of the MILF who were engaging the government in peace talks being suspected."

"All of these Abu Sayyaf related incidents are (1) costing the lives of soldiers and civilians, (2) complicating the security operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police and (3) affecting the peace process in Mindanao."

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security recommended that, "The security agencies must consider adopting safeguard measures in order to prevent the occurrence of similar incidences in the future."

"Visits such as that by US Ambassador Kristie Kenny to the MILF's Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat when she met with MILF Chief Al Haj Murad should have been regulated," Biazon concluded.