Soldiers dying in defence of their dury is always poigbant but many, if not most, take some measure of comfort knowing that such men have not died in vain...but what about when soldiers die needlessly?
Sitio Tubig Magtuh in the municipality of Patikul's Barangay Panglayahan sits in between two sheer-faced peaks, Mount Tunggol and Mount Gasam. Towards the rear of the sitio going upland there is a very sharp incline, heavily forested with successive ridgelines. The only way in is by foot and going uphill. Above the third ridgeline the land takes a more gentle slope and it is there that the Abu Sayyaf's Kumander Radullan "Putol" Sahiron established a well entrenched encampment.
On July 27th, 2011 the AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines, implemented its OPlan (Operational Plan)_ Wild Finger, the latest facet of its more comprehensive OPlan Five Fingers. Wild Finger aimed to de-stabilise the ASG, or Abu Sayyaf Group infrastructure by putting all its numerous Jolo-based factions on the defencive with an aggressive and concerted Fleet-Marine push ("Fleet Marine" being the inclusive Naval-Marine intertwined operational doctrine implemented by the AFP in 2006). Marine Battalion Landing Team #5, or MBLT-5, 311th Company divided itself into three platoons of thirty-two riflemen and one commanding officer and divvied up its given AOR, or Area of Responsibility (as in "Area of Operation").
After midnite Company 311's Platoon 30, under Second Lieutenant Michael Baladad, cautiously entered the upland barangay of Panglayahan and began advancing very slowly as the barangay is ASG-controlled in its upper environs. At 315AM, as the thirty-three men began moving painstakingly slow, advancing up a steep rise, the skies opened up with a torrential thunderstorm. As the men stopped to quietly switch into their rain gear the jungle uphill and to the sides of them came alive with automatic rifle fire.
Immediately Second Lieutenant Baladad and the man closest to him, his second in command, Seargant Desiderio Serdan Jr., who was carrying the platoon's ICOM radio, fell, both instantly killed in the initial fusiilade. The remaining thirty-one men, now rudderless, devoid of command, spread out and fell to their stomachs as their years of training kicked in. Unable to even crawl to Seargant Serdan to call in on the ICOM for assistance the marines concentrated their fire, ever mindful of conserving ammunition. Holding their positions they continued inching to the sides to prevent the Abu Sayyaf from encircling them. Applying pressure on both flanks the marines were slowly able to force the ASG guerillas into a short retreat uphill, albeit to a posiion still very well within firing range.
With rain subsiding just after daybreak the Abu Sayyaf began re-gaining what little ground they had lost. Outnumbering their Marine counterparts by a factor of two and using well honed tactics the guerillas soon had the platoon retreating down hill though very slowly. Seven dead Marines were left where they had died, as the twenty-six survivors, all wounded to the last man themselves, maintained a cohesive formation and repelled numerous attempts to outflank their position. By 7AM the ASG firepower diminished and then quickly subsided as the guerillas retreated further into the mountains.
Slowly the platoon re-climbed the slope to retrieve the bodies of their fallen comrades and any equipment they might salvage. Not only were all seven corpses stripped of everything but their underwear, four of the corpses had been defiled. Second Lieutenant Baladad and another of the fallen, Corporal Freddie Castellano Jr., had been decapitated and their hads had been taken with the retreating guerillas. Two other corpses had been mutilated with a sword. With the ICOM now captured by the Abu Sayyaf the twenty-six surviving- but wounded- members of Platoon 30 realised that they were ill equipped to negotiate the very steep, and now muddied slopes while carrying their fallen comrades. Therefore they reluctantly made their way downhill without the seven and threaded their way into the town proper. There a corporal phoned in a status report to Brigade Headquarters and tended to the most seriously injured amongst them.
It was late in the afternoon before two UH-1H helicopters, popularly known as "Hueys," landed near the town's municipal compound. Taking two of the least injured Marines aboard, one in each helicopter, they lifted off covered by two MG-520 helicopter gunships hovering on their flanks for aircover. The Hueys disgorged portions of MBLTs 5 and 10, the other two battalions engaged in OPlan Wild Finger, and the tedious and painstaking recovery effort began. By night fall the seven bodies of the fallen Marines. The casualties:
1) Second Lieutenant Michael Baladad, the platoon leader, of Quezon City in Metro Manila. He left behind his wife Michelle and their two young children, Macky, age 6, and Mikayla, age 2. Michelle had spoken to her husband just before he led his men into the jungle. They had discussed his upcoming R and R (Rest and Relaxation, aka "Leave") just a week away and how they were going to take the kids to the Manila Zoo. Sadly, she had last seen her husband in March when they had gotten married.
2) Seargant Desiderio Serdan Jr., a resident of Iriga City in Camarines del Sur Province on Luzon.
3) Corporal Freddie Castellano Jr., a lifelong resident of Sitio Mercedes in the municipality of La Castellana's Barangay Sag-ang. He and his family lived on Hacienda Mercedes, a sugar plantation where Corporal Castellano had laboured before entering the military.
4) Corporal Claro Lapasaran III, a resident of the municipality of Barotac's Barangay Licuan in Nuevo Iolio Province in the Central Philippine's Visayas Region.
5) Corporal Ramsel Laynesa, a resident of the municipality of Nabua in the province of Camarines del Sur on Luzon.
6) Private First Class Juanito Evasco Jr., also a resident of Nabua.
7) Private Nico Tinambunan, a lifelong resident of Lamitan City in Basilan Province.
All seven bodies were immediately brought to Camp Bautista in Jolo City on that same island of Jolo where they were stored as arrangements were made. Early Saturday morning, July 30th, they were transported to Camp Erwin Andrews in Zamboanga City where Private Tinambunan's body was offloaded. As a Muslim his funeral had to take place as soon as possible. Ideally a Muslim must be interred before sunset on the day of his or her death but in this case not much could be done. As his body was flown across the strait to Basilan the C-130 lifted off for the flight to Manila where the six remaining corpses would be given a military funeral. Upon landing each white enameled coffin was loaded onto six separate hearses and driven to the auditorium at Marine Headquarters at Fort Bonifacio.
The next morning, Sunday, July 31st, President Aquino made his appearance aa did all high ranking personalities in the military echelon. The President vowed revenge, and promised that each family of the deceased would receive P250,000 ($5,150), a vertible fortune in Philippine terms at nearly two times the annual salary of an enlisted man. The payouts will be sourced from the Presidential Social Fund, a euphanism for "Slush Fund." Considering that AFP personnel are dying in combat every month it seems a bit strange that President Aquino would offer such largesse when he never even raises an eyebrow when other soldiers or marines are killed. Photo opportunities make all the difference.
Each of the seven men received a promotion of a single rank which is a standard procedure and does help to boost the pension any spouse or primary survivor will receive. Also, President Aquino personally awarded- posthumously- the nation's second highest honour, the Gold Cross, for "Gallantry in Action." Again, plenty of people dying and noone bats an eye. On Tuesday, August 2nd, all bodies were released to their families with the AFP delivering them.
Some readers may have remembered that in my first paragraph I had inferred that these seven men gave up their lives for nothing. That seems extremely harsh, but I am sure that if you know the facts that you very well might agree with me.
That very same Abu Sayyaf camp in Sitio Tubig Magtuh? It has been overun and captured by AFP Marines no less than five times in the last seven years. It is true that in war a barren hill with no apparent utility tactically OR strategically can be taken, and re-taken, with great casualties incurred. However, in insurgency it is a different story. When a strategic position is captured, no matter the cost, it must be held and eventually consolidated with other similarly cleared assets. Realising that Sitio Tubig Magtuh holds extreme strategical value for Kumander Sahiron the AFP should have long ago capitalised on its gains there and at least biouvaced a CAA, or Civilian Active Auxiliary (as in CAFGU or CVO) detachment there to repel any future attempts at re-taking the site.
Sadly, each of the several AFP assaults on that particular camp have taken place at a particular time of year, late March. So, just about every Easter Week the AFP sends in a Marine detachment, usually from MBLT-5, to re-take this same camp. It borders on insanity. At least this time the AFP has learned a lesson or two and has installed a military post at the encampment site. Naming the post "Camp Baladad" in honour of Second Lieutenant Michael Baladad, the fallen platoon leader, it is manned by a platoon from none other than MBLT-5.
Showing posts with label Patikul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patikul. Show all posts
Friday, October 7, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Kidnap for Ransom for Third Quarter of 2011, Part IX: Allison Bondoc, Release of Ambon Ahamad Blas and Perlita Bagay
On Sunday morning, August 21st, 2011, 21 year old live in maid Marycris Candalesa was asleep in her room in the servant quarters of the Bondoc Family home in Cagayan del Oro City's Barangay Kauswagan. At 515AM that morning her repose was broken by the loud ringing of her cellphone on the table next to her bed. Tiredly reaching for the phone, her coworker and room mate saw Marycris' expression change in an instant from exhausted to livid. Hearing the young lady dare a male voice to do it but leave her out of it.
Moments later Marycris left their room and stepped out into the cool morning air. Seeing shadows on the inner wall of the compound she quickly screamed to warn her boss Allison Bondoc of the imminent danger. As Marycris was looking at Ms.Bondoc one of four young men who had just scaled the 3 meter high wall separating the palatial home on the city's Dandelion Street from the hustle and bustle of city life, raised a 45 caliber pistol and squeezed off a single round. Marycris dropped, the bullet entering through the back of her skull and exiting through her forehead having pierced her brain, killing her instantly. She had spent less than 4 weeks at her position and would be returning to her hometown of Jasaan in that same province of Misamis Oriental in a wooden coffin.
Needless to say, having saved her new employer Allison Bondoc from a certain kidnapping her short time working there will always be respectfully remembered by the entire Bondoc family. Still, the question remains, the phone call was timed exactly to co-incide with the infiltration of the Bondoc compound. And what of the spat Marycris had had after answering her cellphone? The obvious assumption is that the maid, as is so often the case on Mindanao, was a plant, tasked with casing the Bondoc family and its home for a KFR, or Kidnap for Ransom group. Did she change her mind about helping the kidnappers, albeit a tad bit too late, or is it just a strane co-incidence? We will never know at this point.
Post Script: On Wednesday, August 31st Cagayan del Oro City's City Councilor Juan Sia put forth a Motion that Marycris be officially recognised for her "good deed" and that her family be given financial assistance to tide them over through this difficult time.
On a much more cheerful note, two victims recently kidnapped on Jolo Island in Sulu Province have just been released, Sunday, August 28th, 2011. 60 year old Ambon Ahamad Blas and 25 year old Perlita Bagay had been waylaid on August 21st, 2011 while riding tandem on a single motorcycle after a day spent selling used clothing in the municipality of Patikul. As the motorcycle was traversing Barangay Latih a local streetgang calling itself the "Virgin Boys" blocked their path and captured them. The game plan had been to sell the pair to ASG, or the Abu Sayyaf Group via local factional leader sub-Kumander Basaram Arok.
Arok, wanted for the KFR and eventual decapitation of public school principal Roger Canizares in late 2009 is still a power to reckon with in Patikul's upland barangays. Arok however thought the pickings not worth the time and effort, after all, used clothing sellers do not bring lucrative ransoms. With Arok taking a pass on the pair of victims the Virgin Boys leaders were then forced to handle the ransoming and ended up scoring a quick P100,000 ($1,850) for just a couple of days sweat. Of course the downside is that having scored 4 months wages for a week's work will only serve to inspire the group to take a more active role in the KFR Industry.
Moments later Marycris left their room and stepped out into the cool morning air. Seeing shadows on the inner wall of the compound she quickly screamed to warn her boss Allison Bondoc of the imminent danger. As Marycris was looking at Ms.Bondoc one of four young men who had just scaled the 3 meter high wall separating the palatial home on the city's Dandelion Street from the hustle and bustle of city life, raised a 45 caliber pistol and squeezed off a single round. Marycris dropped, the bullet entering through the back of her skull and exiting through her forehead having pierced her brain, killing her instantly. She had spent less than 4 weeks at her position and would be returning to her hometown of Jasaan in that same province of Misamis Oriental in a wooden coffin.
Needless to say, having saved her new employer Allison Bondoc from a certain kidnapping her short time working there will always be respectfully remembered by the entire Bondoc family. Still, the question remains, the phone call was timed exactly to co-incide with the infiltration of the Bondoc compound. And what of the spat Marycris had had after answering her cellphone? The obvious assumption is that the maid, as is so often the case on Mindanao, was a plant, tasked with casing the Bondoc family and its home for a KFR, or Kidnap for Ransom group. Did she change her mind about helping the kidnappers, albeit a tad bit too late, or is it just a strane co-incidence? We will never know at this point.
Post Script: On Wednesday, August 31st Cagayan del Oro City's City Councilor Juan Sia put forth a Motion that Marycris be officially recognised for her "good deed" and that her family be given financial assistance to tide them over through this difficult time.
On a much more cheerful note, two victims recently kidnapped on Jolo Island in Sulu Province have just been released, Sunday, August 28th, 2011. 60 year old Ambon Ahamad Blas and 25 year old Perlita Bagay had been waylaid on August 21st, 2011 while riding tandem on a single motorcycle after a day spent selling used clothing in the municipality of Patikul. As the motorcycle was traversing Barangay Latih a local streetgang calling itself the "Virgin Boys" blocked their path and captured them. The game plan had been to sell the pair to ASG, or the Abu Sayyaf Group via local factional leader sub-Kumander Basaram Arok.
Arok, wanted for the KFR and eventual decapitation of public school principal Roger Canizares in late 2009 is still a power to reckon with in Patikul's upland barangays. Arok however thought the pickings not worth the time and effort, after all, used clothing sellers do not bring lucrative ransoms. With Arok taking a pass on the pair of victims the Virgin Boys leaders were then forced to handle the ransoming and ended up scoring a quick P100,000 ($1,850) for just a couple of days sweat. Of course the downside is that having scored 4 months wages for a week's work will only serve to inspire the group to take a more active role in the KFR Industry.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Kidnap for Ransom for the Third Quarter of 2011, Part V: Evangeline Taverisma, Ambon Blas, and Perlita Bagay
Evangeline Taverisma spent her time caring for her husband, a retired soldier in the AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines and doing what she did best, helping expectant mothers to be at the Rural Health Station in Barangay Tagbak. The clinic, in the municipality of Indanan on the island of Jolo catered to Barabgay Tagbbak's Muslim Community. Despite having served that community for nearly 35 years Mrs. Taverisma was targetted by ASG, or the Abu Sayyaf Group.
On Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 Mrs. Taverisma finished her duties early and left the clinic just before 3PM, hurrying home to cook supper for her husband whose identity I will withold given his status as a retired soldier living in a somewhat dangerous area. As the 55 year old woman began walking to the barangay's main road in order to catch a jeepney ride home a red Toyota Tamaraw cut in front of her and slammed on its brakes.
Four ASG guerillas jumped out waving 45 caliber pistols and forced the shocked woman into the truck before getting back in themselves and speeding off towards the municipality of Patikul. Authorities, with typical ridiculousness have linked the attack to the Jose Batronel Kidnapping which had ended just fifteen days prior (covered in my entry, "Kidnap for Ransom for the Third Quarter of 2011, Part IV"). In that case, on July 13th, 2011 a Batangas-based trader, his live in lover and their maid had been kidnapped from a rooming house in Jolo City's Barangay Bus Bus. The maid, Julie Latorre had managed to escape when one of the attackers mis-fired his 45 caliber pistol. Jumping out of the red Toyota Tamaraw jeepney as it sped towards a main road she ran for her life and was able escaped none the worse for the experience. Knowing noone in the Southern Philippines and having no way in which to contact those people she did know back on Luzon Ms.Latorre made a regrettable but thoroughly understandable decision to report the incident to the Jolo City CPO, or City Police Office.
Shortly thereafter Mr.Batronel was able to convince the guerillas holding him, under sub-Kumander Naser Timbang, that only he could access the funds needed to ransom him and his live in lover. Released to do just that he then paid the ransom as agreed and his lover re-gained her freedom the very next day, July 18th
Authorities reckon that because a red Toyota Tamaraw was utilised in the latest case and that the kidnapping was undertaken by ASG gunmen carrying 45 caliber pistols must mean that Naser Timbang is behind the kidnapping of Mrs.Taverisma as well. The only problem with that though is that Mr. Batronel's assailants were aboard a jeepney. The Tamaraw that kidnapped Engeline Taverisma was not a jeepney. 45 caliber pistols are the most common pistol in a nation where weapons are VERY common - and as far as the Southern Philippines go- are part of the landscape. ASG involvement on one level or another is a given since they have cornered the KFR industry in Sulu Province, to which Jolo Island belongs as well as a major share in that of Basilan Island.
Employed through the ARMM, or Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao's Department of Health and its Rural Health Force Program, Mrs. Taverisma had been nearing retirement but planned to stay on in a volunteer capacity. ARMM's Secretary of Health, Dr.Kadil "Jojo" Sinolilinding Jr. quickly organised a demonstration at the ARMM Capital, in Cotabato City in Mainland Mindanao's North Cotabato Province. On August 6th nearly 300 ARMM healthcare workers demonstrated on Governor Gutierrez Street against the targetting of healthcare workers.
Later that same day ASG made its first ransom demand, an outrageous P15 Million ($350,000) indicating that Abu Sayyaf is expecting the ARMM to pony up most or all of the ransom. Though the Government pays lip service to a "No Ransom" policy it does, from time to time, cough up a share depending upon certain circumstances. Time will tell if this is one such circumstance.
On Sunday, August 21st, 2011 60 year old Ambon Ahamad Blas was driving his motorcycle home after a long day selling used clothes, or "ukay-ukay" adjacent to P-mart Department Store in the municipality of Patikul's Barangay Darang. Seated in back of him was his co-worker Perlita Bagay, age 25. She too was tired after a difficult day at their stall in Sitio Patong Patong. As the motocycle passed Latih Elementary School in Patikul's Barangay Latih, just inside Sitio Ba'unoh a band of young men blocked their path and forced them to stop.
A recently formed street gang calling itself the "Virgin Boys" had just taken its first bold step into the KFR, or Kidnap for Ransom Industry. The Virgin Boys, co-led by two young men known only as Roger and Gapas had undertaken the act in hopes of ingratiating themselves with ASG sub-Kumander Basarun Arok. Arok is an experienced hand, currently under warrant along with underlings Edimar Isnain and Abdulaptip Jalmani for the October of 2009 KFR of Roger Canizares.
Mr.Canizares was the principal of Tanum Elementary School in Patikul's Barangay Tanum. When the ransom wasn't forthcoming sub-Kumander Basarun Arok had Mr.Canizares decapitated. Let us hope that Mr.Blas and Ms.Bagay fare a whole lot better.
On Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 Mrs. Taverisma finished her duties early and left the clinic just before 3PM, hurrying home to cook supper for her husband whose identity I will withold given his status as a retired soldier living in a somewhat dangerous area. As the 55 year old woman began walking to the barangay's main road in order to catch a jeepney ride home a red Toyota Tamaraw cut in front of her and slammed on its brakes.
Four ASG guerillas jumped out waving 45 caliber pistols and forced the shocked woman into the truck before getting back in themselves and speeding off towards the municipality of Patikul. Authorities, with typical ridiculousness have linked the attack to the Jose Batronel Kidnapping which had ended just fifteen days prior (covered in my entry, "Kidnap for Ransom for the Third Quarter of 2011, Part IV"). In that case, on July 13th, 2011 a Batangas-based trader, his live in lover and their maid had been kidnapped from a rooming house in Jolo City's Barangay Bus Bus. The maid, Julie Latorre had managed to escape when one of the attackers mis-fired his 45 caliber pistol. Jumping out of the red Toyota Tamaraw jeepney as it sped towards a main road she ran for her life and was able escaped none the worse for the experience. Knowing noone in the Southern Philippines and having no way in which to contact those people she did know back on Luzon Ms.Latorre made a regrettable but thoroughly understandable decision to report the incident to the Jolo City CPO, or City Police Office.
Shortly thereafter Mr.Batronel was able to convince the guerillas holding him, under sub-Kumander Naser Timbang, that only he could access the funds needed to ransom him and his live in lover. Released to do just that he then paid the ransom as agreed and his lover re-gained her freedom the very next day, July 18th
Authorities reckon that because a red Toyota Tamaraw was utilised in the latest case and that the kidnapping was undertaken by ASG gunmen carrying 45 caliber pistols must mean that Naser Timbang is behind the kidnapping of Mrs.Taverisma as well. The only problem with that though is that Mr. Batronel's assailants were aboard a jeepney. The Tamaraw that kidnapped Engeline Taverisma was not a jeepney. 45 caliber pistols are the most common pistol in a nation where weapons are VERY common - and as far as the Southern Philippines go- are part of the landscape. ASG involvement on one level or another is a given since they have cornered the KFR industry in Sulu Province, to which Jolo Island belongs as well as a major share in that of Basilan Island.
Employed through the ARMM, or Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao's Department of Health and its Rural Health Force Program, Mrs. Taverisma had been nearing retirement but planned to stay on in a volunteer capacity. ARMM's Secretary of Health, Dr.Kadil "Jojo" Sinolilinding Jr. quickly organised a demonstration at the ARMM Capital, in Cotabato City in Mainland Mindanao's North Cotabato Province. On August 6th nearly 300 ARMM healthcare workers demonstrated on Governor Gutierrez Street against the targetting of healthcare workers.
Later that same day ASG made its first ransom demand, an outrageous P15 Million ($350,000) indicating that Abu Sayyaf is expecting the ARMM to pony up most or all of the ransom. Though the Government pays lip service to a "No Ransom" policy it does, from time to time, cough up a share depending upon certain circumstances. Time will tell if this is one such circumstance.
On Sunday, August 21st, 2011 60 year old Ambon Ahamad Blas was driving his motorcycle home after a long day selling used clothes, or "ukay-ukay" adjacent to P-mart Department Store in the municipality of Patikul's Barangay Darang. Seated in back of him was his co-worker Perlita Bagay, age 25. She too was tired after a difficult day at their stall in Sitio Patong Patong. As the motocycle passed Latih Elementary School in Patikul's Barangay Latih, just inside Sitio Ba'unoh a band of young men blocked their path and forced them to stop.
A recently formed street gang calling itself the "Virgin Boys" had just taken its first bold step into the KFR, or Kidnap for Ransom Industry. The Virgin Boys, co-led by two young men known only as Roger and Gapas had undertaken the act in hopes of ingratiating themselves with ASG sub-Kumander Basarun Arok. Arok is an experienced hand, currently under warrant along with underlings Edimar Isnain and Abdulaptip Jalmani for the October of 2009 KFR of Roger Canizares.
Mr.Canizares was the principal of Tanum Elementary School in Patikul's Barangay Tanum. When the ransom wasn't forthcoming sub-Kumander Basarun Arok had Mr.Canizares decapitated. Let us hope that Mr.Blas and Ms.Bagay fare a whole lot better.
Kidnap for Ransom for the Third Quarter of 2011, Part IV: The Release of Nelson Lim
Late in the afternoon on April 29th, 2011 Nelson Lim told his son to man the fort as he and his wife decided to leave a bit early on their long walk home. The "fort," Times Hardware, in Jolo City's bustling downtown area is one of several hardware businesses in the city owned by Tsinoy, as Filipinos of Chinese descent are commonly known. After the Battle of 1974 during the MNLF Insurgency most Tsinoy had abandoned Jolo City turning a vibrant storied city into a shell of its former self. The city's economy never recovered and with each passing year more and more Tsinoy moved away, unwilling to shoulder the risk posed by the next generation of insurgents, ASG, or the Abu Sayyaf Group and other lawless elements. Kidnapping had become an epidemic over the last decade and no single group was targetted more than the Tsinoy.
As Mr.Lim and his wife left their store they were both looking forward to a relaxing evening at home. The next morning, Saturday, was the couples' turn at the family owned resturant Plaza Panciteria on Jolo City's Serantes Street. One of the island's oldest and most popular eateries it had been founded by Mr. Lim's late father in law. Upon his death shares in it were distributed amongst the extended family. Each share holder took a turn at managing its day to day operation. Still, th
at was tomorrow and for now the couple busied themselves with the long walk home to Barangay Bus Bus.
Concerned family members had tried to convince the elderly couple to ride to and from their downtown store but Mr.Lim would hear nothing of it. At the very least he argued, the walk provided him with a way in which to maintain the trim physique he took pride in. As for safety concerns, he maintained that noone would bother with such an old man. After all he reasoned, he had managed to survive nearly 70 years in Jolo without making a single enemy, no mean feat given local mores.
As the two walked through Barangay Bus Bus they failed to notice a navy blue Mitsubishi L300 van that had begun tailing them at a distance. Nearing their home in the barangay's Sitio Lambayong the van increased its speed to close the distance and just as the couple neared the front gate of their residential compound the van skidded to a stop beside them. Four ASG guerillas:
1) Asman Sawadjaan
2) Mudzrimar Sawadjaan
3) Jihad Naymel
4) sub-Kumander Ninok Sappari
jumped out of the van waving 45 caliber pistols and physically picked Mr.Lim up off the ground before depositing him in the rear of the van. Ignoring Lim's hysterical wife the van then took off at a high rate of speed. As the kidnapping had taken place at 530PM on one of the barangay's most travelled streets more than one bystander had reported it to authorities. The AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines scrambled MBLT-5, or Marine Battalion Landing Team #5 to the municipality of Patikul, the predicted destination of the kidnappers.
Jolo City's CPO, or City Police Office followed standard protocol and notified the Sulu PPO, or Police Provincial Office which in turn deployed an investigatory team to interview Mrs.Lim. In the interim though Mrs. Lim had callen her eldest son who as he rushed to the family home made sure that his mother would in no way co-operate with the authorities. As bad as a kidnapping can be, notifying the authorities only makes it so many times worse. If by some chance the police or military do find out about the kidnapping, totally ignoring them is the only sensible path.
MBLT-5 began scouring the town of Patikul with the assumption being that the victim had been abducted by one of two ASG factions, both operating within the borders of that municipality. Indeed the L300 van was found in that town's Barangay Sandah, having been abandoned. Quickly running a check on the vehicle it was found to be registered to a certain Laja Bagatsing. As in all other similar cases the van had been reported stolen shortly before the kidnapping although the owner is related to an ASG guerilla. After finding themselves unable to track the occupants of the van in the dark the Marines returned to their base at Camp Bautista. Meanwhile, Mr.Lim's kidnappers were joined by three other ASG guerillas who began marching their blindfolded victim uphill.
Eventually entering Barangay Tanum the group stopped for the night at the home of a fellow ASG guerilla. Early the next morning, before the sun appeared in the sky, the Abu Sayyaf guerillas led the still blindfolded Lim up country into that barangay's outermost sitio, Makayah, the last settlement before Mount Dahu. Resting a bit, they then continued upland and onto the slopes of the Abu Sayyaf controlled Mount Dahu. It was at various points on the mountain that Nelson Lim would spend the next three months, waiting and hoping to see his family again.
With the authorities out of the way the Lim family then went about negotiating a reasonable ransom. The man behind the kidnapping, sub-Kumander Jurim Hussin initially demanded P5 Million ($105,000) but by the end of June that figure had dropped to P3 Million ($62,000). Not satisfied with that amount the Lim family further whittled down the figure to P1.5 Million ($30,500) by mid-July. When, by July 19th they had failed to gain ground on a further reduction the family agreed to pay that amount and so final arrangements were made.
On Wednesday, July 20th the Lim family representative handed the cash to a middleman who relayed the sum, less his 10% commission, to sub-Kumander Hussin's representative. At 1PM the next afternoon, July 21st Nelson Lim was blindfolded and taken downhill off of the mountain, to a home in Patikul's Barangay Tanum where he was ordered to wash up and ready himself for release. By 9PM Mr.Lim was standing in Barangay Sandah waiting for Vice Mayor of Jolo City, Edsir "Eddie" Que Tan who finally arrived at 945PM to take custody of him and deliver Mr.Lim to his family.
As Mr.Lim and his wife left their store they were both looking forward to a relaxing evening at home. The next morning, Saturday, was the couples' turn at the family owned resturant Plaza Panciteria on Jolo City's Serantes Street. One of the island's oldest and most popular eateries it had been founded by Mr. Lim's late father in law. Upon his death shares in it were distributed amongst the extended family. Each share holder took a turn at managing its day to day operation. Still, th
at was tomorrow and for now the couple busied themselves with the long walk home to Barangay Bus Bus.
Concerned family members had tried to convince the elderly couple to ride to and from their downtown store but Mr.Lim would hear nothing of it. At the very least he argued, the walk provided him with a way in which to maintain the trim physique he took pride in. As for safety concerns, he maintained that noone would bother with such an old man. After all he reasoned, he had managed to survive nearly 70 years in Jolo without making a single enemy, no mean feat given local mores.
As the two walked through Barangay Bus Bus they failed to notice a navy blue Mitsubishi L300 van that had begun tailing them at a distance. Nearing their home in the barangay's Sitio Lambayong the van increased its speed to close the distance and just as the couple neared the front gate of their residential compound the van skidded to a stop beside them. Four ASG guerillas:
1) Asman Sawadjaan
2) Mudzrimar Sawadjaan
3) Jihad Naymel
4) sub-Kumander Ninok Sappari
jumped out of the van waving 45 caliber pistols and physically picked Mr.Lim up off the ground before depositing him in the rear of the van. Ignoring Lim's hysterical wife the van then took off at a high rate of speed. As the kidnapping had taken place at 530PM on one of the barangay's most travelled streets more than one bystander had reported it to authorities. The AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines scrambled MBLT-5, or Marine Battalion Landing Team #5 to the municipality of Patikul, the predicted destination of the kidnappers.
Jolo City's CPO, or City Police Office followed standard protocol and notified the Sulu PPO, or Police Provincial Office which in turn deployed an investigatory team to interview Mrs.Lim. In the interim though Mrs. Lim had callen her eldest son who as he rushed to the family home made sure that his mother would in no way co-operate with the authorities. As bad as a kidnapping can be, notifying the authorities only makes it so many times worse. If by some chance the police or military do find out about the kidnapping, totally ignoring them is the only sensible path.
MBLT-5 began scouring the town of Patikul with the assumption being that the victim had been abducted by one of two ASG factions, both operating within the borders of that municipality. Indeed the L300 van was found in that town's Barangay Sandah, having been abandoned. Quickly running a check on the vehicle it was found to be registered to a certain Laja Bagatsing. As in all other similar cases the van had been reported stolen shortly before the kidnapping although the owner is related to an ASG guerilla. After finding themselves unable to track the occupants of the van in the dark the Marines returned to their base at Camp Bautista. Meanwhile, Mr.Lim's kidnappers were joined by three other ASG guerillas who began marching their blindfolded victim uphill.
Eventually entering Barangay Tanum the group stopped for the night at the home of a fellow ASG guerilla. Early the next morning, before the sun appeared in the sky, the Abu Sayyaf guerillas led the still blindfolded Lim up country into that barangay's outermost sitio, Makayah, the last settlement before Mount Dahu. Resting a bit, they then continued upland and onto the slopes of the Abu Sayyaf controlled Mount Dahu. It was at various points on the mountain that Nelson Lim would spend the next three months, waiting and hoping to see his family again.
With the authorities out of the way the Lim family then went about negotiating a reasonable ransom. The man behind the kidnapping, sub-Kumander Jurim Hussin initially demanded P5 Million ($105,000) but by the end of June that figure had dropped to P3 Million ($62,000). Not satisfied with that amount the Lim family further whittled down the figure to P1.5 Million ($30,500) by mid-July. When, by July 19th they had failed to gain ground on a further reduction the family agreed to pay that amount and so final arrangements were made.
On Wednesday, July 20th the Lim family representative handed the cash to a middleman who relayed the sum, less his 10% commission, to sub-Kumander Hussin's representative. At 1PM the next afternoon, July 21st Nelson Lim was blindfolded and taken downhill off of the mountain, to a home in Patikul's Barangay Tanum where he was ordered to wash up and ready himself for release. By 9PM Mr.Lim was standing in Barangay Sandah waiting for Vice Mayor of Jolo City, Edsir "Eddie" Que Tan who finally arrived at 945PM to take custody of him and deliver Mr.Lim to his family.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Kidnap for Ransom,First Quarter of 2011,Part V:Renato Panisales,Wennie Ferrer,Jonald Oscimar and Ujain Arabain
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