abu sayyaf Archives - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Dec252009 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Happy Christmas news in Mindanao – kidnapped Basilan school official released

Announcements, ARMM, Basilan, BIMP-EAGA, Campus, Controversial, Crime, Headline, Mindanaoan Update, Muslim Mindanao, News

They may have paid P100,000.00 for the "board and lodging" but what's the most important is that they have their beloved relative back. Dr. Orlando Fajardo, the vice president of Basilan State College in Basilan, Mindanao, was released a few hours before Christmas at an area between the towns of Tuburan and Tipo-Tipo. Fajardo was captured two weeks ago at the BSC canteen. The Fajardo family reportedly paid P100,000.00 for the "board and lodging" of their relative. The money was also reportedly paid in installment. Basilan Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul said Fajardo was released at around 9:30 p.m. Christmas eve Thursday. Initially, the kidnappers wanted P20 million in ransom. Then, the amount was lowered to P3.5 million. Eventually, no ransom was paid. Only the ...

Let’s not forget the 3 kidnapped teachers…part deux

Advocacy, ARMM, Basilan, Commentary, Controversial, Crime, Government, Mindanaoan Update, Muslim Mindanao, News, Sulu, Zamboanga Sibugay

MINDANAO - Opposition senator and reported 2010 presidentiable Francis "Chiz" Escudero and I share the same sentiments. Chiz Escudero, in his recent press statement, has asked the public that while it's true that we all should be happy for International Red Cross volunteer Eugenio Vagni's safe release from captivity in Basilan, we should still not forget the three teachers who remain hostages of the Abu Sayyaf. If you remember, these are my very thoughts last May 2009. The three teachers namely Jocelyn Enriquez, Jocelyn Inion and Noemi Mandi were abducted by last March 13 off the island barangay of Bangkaw-Bangkaw, Naga town, Zamboanga Sibugay while they were on the way home. “The end of Mr. Vagni’s ordeal should convince those working behind the scenes to exert more effort in...

Let’s not forget the kidnapped teachers in Basilan, Mindanao please

Advocacy, ARMM, Basilan, Commentary, Controversial, Crime, Mindanaoan Update, Muslim Mindanao, News, Opinion

Amid all the "controversies" these days --- from Dr. Vicki Belo's former flame Dr. Hayden Kho's sex video scandal to the two confirmed cases of A H1N1 in the country to Brillante Mendoza's amazing win as Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival, it seems that we don't hear of any updates with regard to the six teachers that are still being held hostage in Basilan, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). I find this very, very unfortunate. While it's true that to not talk much about the hostage taking may be good for the government's strategy to retrieve the hostages, one cannot also help but think if all the "current controversies" merely "cover" the more important and more pressing issues. Last I heard, there's a Basilan crisis management committee that's handling the matte...