Abu Sayyaf behind abduction of Lankan in Philippines

A top police official yesterday tagged the Abu Sayyaf as the group behind the abduction of a Sri Lankan peace advocate in Southern Philippines.

Basilan police director Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar identified the leader of the group that kidnapped Umar Jaleel as Furiji Indama.

Nine gunmen seized 36-year-old Jaleel of the Brussels-based Nonviolent Peace Force (NP) at about 2:45 a.m. last Friday at the village of Maloong in Lamitan City, Basilan.

Macapantar disclosed that Jaleel was brought to Puente Eggas in the so-called Sampinit Complex that straddles Basilan's two cities and 10 of 11 towns.

Macapantar said his command is closely working with the 1st Marine Brigade in tracking down the bandits in the thickly forested Sampinit Complex.

He said Indama's group is yet to set conditions for the release of the victim.

Jaleel's abduction brings the total number of hostages in the hands of Basilan kidnappers to five. Others abducted include three teachers from Zamboanga City, who were taken last January 23, and a nine-year-old child kidnapped in Lamitan City two weeks ago.

A faction of the Abu Sayyaf, a loosely organized group of Islamic fundamentalists, in Sulu province is currently holding three International Committee on the Red Cross (ICRC) volunteers. The NP meanwhile has appealed to the abductors of Jaleel to release him

unconditionally and unharmed as quickly as possible.

In a statement, the group said that as a neutral non-government organization (NGO) they don't normally pay ransom.

The NP said that they are working with authorities, other NGOs and community members to expedite the early release of Jaleel.

- GMANews.TV