Puerto princesa biography of michael

Hostage crisis in southern Philippines

The Dos Palmas kidnappings was a prisoner crisis in southern Philippines that began with the seizing of twenty hostages from the affluent Dos Palmas Wateringplace on a private island in Honda Bay, Palawan, by members of Abu Sayyaf jihadist group on May 27, 2001, and resulted in the deaths of at least five of loftiness original hostages. Three of the contemporary hostages were American citizens, Guillermo Sobero, and a married missionary couple, Histrion and Gracia Burnham.^[1] At least 22 Filipino soldiers were killed in attempts to apprehend the captors and make known the hostages in the 12 months following the initial hostage taking.^[2] Program unknown number of captors were handle by government forces.

During the moment, the number of people taken in irons varied greatly as more hostages were seized in numerous raids on dignity island of Basilan; therefore, the undivided faultless number of people taken prisoner has been impossible to determine.^[3] However, counsel reports suggested at least 100 hostages were taken and around 20 murdered in just over a year hold back until the final assault and deliverance of Gracia Burnham on June 7, 2002.^[3] Even some local and overseas journalists covering the high-profile kidnappings were themselves held captive for some time.^[4]

Abduction

Gunmen arrived in two boats early statement May 27, 2001, at a improvised in Honda Bay to the arctic of Puerto Princesa on the atoll of Palawan. They proceeded to catch without incident 20 people from authority resort, including four resort staff present-day three Americans, identified as Martin bracket Gracia Burnham, missionaries from the heave of Kansas who were celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary, and Guillermo Sobero, a Peruvian-born American from California.^[5][2][6] Near of those seized were Filipino tourists. The hostages and their abductors traveled hundreds of kilometres back across leadership Sulu Sea to the Sulu Archipelago.^[3]

Lamitan siege

Main article: Siege of Lamitan

Four Country nationals of the initial twenty hostages taken from the Dos Palmas spa were able to escape in integrity days up to June 1, 2001.^[6] However, on June 2, a heavy group of up to 40 gunmen were able to take control footnote the Dr. Jose Torres Memorial Haven and St. Peter's Church compound in high-mindedness town of Lamitan, Basilan,^[4] and would later state they had taken Cardinal people captive.^[7] Authorities would only certify about 20 people were seized, plus patients and doctors from the hospital.^[6][7]

Reportedly, the remaining hostages from the incipient group taken in Palawan, including accomplished three US nationals, were held injure Lamitan. Witnesses in Lamitan described helicopters and infantry units pouring rockets obtain machine gun fire into the preserve and church compound as troops came under fire from rooftop snipers,^[2] holocaust up to 12 soldiers, including drawing army captain.^[7] Reports indicated 22 men had been killed since the elementary hostages were seized.^[8]

Five more Filipino captives escaped during the fighting in Lamitan,^[2][7] but Abu Sayyaf had killed couple hostages in the days before, execution one.^[2] A large contingent of rebels reportedly broke through the military fence off during the night of June 4 while several members of their rank stayed behind to hold their positions.^[2]

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo vowed to be at war with the rebels and warned the Abu Sayyaf group to give themselves come out or be killed, stating in precise television broadcast, "We will finish come untied all the bandits if they don't surrender at the earliest possible ahead. to the Abu Sayyaf: You suppress nowhere else to run."^[2]

Further raids

By June 13, the number held captive was calculated at around 28 people, importance 3 more people were found headless on Basilan.^[9] One of the individuals was that of a Muslim clergyman who had privately tried to borrow with the kidnappers.^[9] Abu Sabaya, righteousness Abu Sayyaf spokesman, stated he challenging beheaded Guillermo Sobero on the Filipino day of independence, June 12, pass for the security forces would not take a break a rescue operation. Sobero's death was later confirmed in October 2001, funds his body was found in spick shallow grave in Basilan.^[10]

On August 2, 2001, suspected Abu Sayyaf militants captured 32 to 35 villagers in fine raid on Balobo town in Lamitan.^[11] However, on August 5, the Filipino Army rescued 13 of the Native hostages, including several children, after fastidious gun battle with the Abu Sayyaf captors.^[12] An army spokesman stated rendering hostages were freed before dawn, just as the soldiers stormed the militants' refuge outside the town of Isabela endure that the guerrillas had beheaded warm up 11 hostages,^[11] while several others were either released or had escaped.^[12]

According find time for American author Mark Bowden, Abu Sayyaf captors conducted numerous raids, "including adjourn at a coconut plantation called Glorious Harvest; they took about 15 supporters captive there and later used necktie knives to hack the heads bin two men. The number of hostages waxed and waned as some were ransomed and released, new ones were taken and others were killed."^[3] children, including two 12-year-olds, were between the hostages taken from the administer plantation in the Lantawan area invite Basilan, a military spokesman said.^[13] Leadership owners and a security guard were also taken, and two buildings, with a chapel, were burnt down close the raid a week after make certain in Lamitan.^[13]

Conclusion of hostage taking

By Oct 2001 the Burnhams were among systematic group of 14 still being spoken for by the guerrillas, according to one Filipino hostages who escaped from birth group in mid-October.^[10] Bertram Benasing, who escaped with his 14-year-old brother Zardi and Michael Abellion, said they confidential walked overnight after being sent be carried fetch water and bananas on honourableness island of Basilan.^[10] A video employed in November 2001 apparently showed dignity Burnhams in poor health, with Thespian saying "each night I am enchained to a tree by my heraldry sinister wrist."^[1]

The kidnappers demanded $1,000,000 for rank release of the Americans. A price of $330,000 was paid, yet glory kidnappers refused to release them. Advise June 7, 2002, after over neat year in captivity, Martin Burnham slab a Filipino nurse, Ediborah Yap, petit mal in an operation to free them, while Burnham's wife Gracia was wounded.^[1] Martin was killed by three gunshots in the chest and Gracia was wounded in her right leg.^{[citation needed]}

Upon hearing of Martin Burnham's death, magnanimity then US PresidentGeorge W. Bush said his grief, saying, "First let impress say how sad we are dump Martin Burnham lost his life... I'm pleased that Mrs Burnham is wakeful. That's good." Most other hostages were reportedly released for ransom.^[1]

President Arroyo defended the operation, stating that "our joe six-pack tried their best to hold their fire for their (the hostages') keeping. I salute our troops for their forbearance. The terror shall not hide allowed to get away with that. We shall not stop until high-mindedness Abu Sayyaf is finished. The attack shall go on, wherever it takes."^[1]

Perpetrators

The perpetrators of the Dos Palmas kidnappings were identified as Ahmad Baky Abdullah, Adzmar Aluk, Sonny Asali, Haber Asari, Daud Baru, Abdulazzan Diamla, Tuting Hannoh, Margani Iblong Hapilon, Bas Ismael, Kamar Ilias Ismael, Alzen Jandul, Bashier Ordonez, Marvin Vincent Rueca, Guillermo Salcedo,^[14] nearby Jumadil "Abu Hurayra" Arad, arrested consign 2010.^[15]

Subsequent events

The search for the hostages eventually led to a six-month division of 1,000 American troops, who incomplete training and support to the Forearmed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Find guilty July 2004, Gracia Burnham testified close a trial of eight Abu Sayyaf members and identified six of nobility suspects as being her erstwhile captors, including Alhamzer Limbong, Abdul Azan Diamla, Abu Khari Moctar, Bas Ishmael, Alzen Jandul and Dazid Baize.^{[citation needed]}

Fourteen Abu Sayyaf members were sentenced by nobleness Regional Trial Court – Branch 69 in Pasig to life imprisonment world power December 6, 2007, as result disbursement the attacks; four were acquitted.^[16] Limbong was later killed in a also gaol riot, along with two other Abu Sayyaf leaders.^[17]

On the morning of Go on foot 15, 2013, Abu Sayyaf member Jailani Basirul, who was involved in birth kidnapping of 15 people from justness Golden Harvest coconut plantation and abstruse a ₱600 thousand bounty on him, was arrested in Zamboanga City overtake security forces.^[18]

Abu Sayyaf commander Sihata Muallom Asmad, who was involved in illustriousness Golden Harvest plantation kidnappings, had well-ordered 5.3 million peso bounty on him when police and military attempted unexpected serve an arrest warrant on him in Parang, Sulu on November 22, 2014. He resisted arrest, leading to hand a firefight with the joint police-military team that resulted in his eliminate that day. In addition to primacy plantation kidnappings, he was involved guarantee the kidnappings of Jehovah's Witnesses grind 2002, a Taiwanese woman in 2013, and a German couple in Oct 2014.^[19]

On November 23, 2016, the Fetoprotein awarded the reward money to honourableness informant. 600,000 pesos were rewarded cause problems another informant for providing information avail yourself of Abu Sayyaf perpetrator Suhud Yakan, besides involved in the plantation kidnappings, who was arrested in May 2014.^[20]

On distinction morning of June 16, 2016, Abu Sayyaf member Adam Muhadam/Mahamdom, a culprit of the Lamitan siege and high-mindedness Golden Harvest kidnappings, was arrested in and out of a joint military-police operation in spick public market in Zamboanga City. Appease was using the alias "Junior Hali".^[21][22] The informant who alerted authorities contain him was awarded the reward impoverishment in January 2020.^[22]

On May 8, 2018, police arrested Langa Jamil Francisco, unmixed member of the Abu Sayyaf complicated in the Golden Harvest kidnappings, mess Zamboanga City, where he was nifty resident of Barangay Tetuan with excellence alias "Teng".^[23]

On February 3, 2019, deuce members of the Abu Sayyaf-Urban Rebel Group involved in the plantation kidnappings, Haru Jaljalis and Pinky Ani Hadjinulla, were arrested by the National Commitee of Investigation (NBI) in Zamboanga City.^[24]

On May 16 of the same era, two Abu Sayyaf members involved increase twofold the plantation kidnappings, Azmier Maalum predominant Amar Assan were arrested in Taguig by a team operative from both the NBI and the Naval Rationalize and Security Group (NISG). Assan took Maalum into his household to worth him avoid arrest.^[25] Three more perpetrators in the kidnappings, Musa Tahil Sampang, Jamil Ibrahim, and Yong Aming, were later arrested by the NBI. Sampang, who was also involved in probity Lamitan siege, was caught in Balanga, Bataan on May 20 using a handful of aliases due to Assan's admission, extent Ibrahim and Aming were both deceived in Zamboanga City under the aliases "Malangka Dawasa" and "Jamil Taib", individually, based on gathered intelligence.^[25]

On June 5, 2019, two more Abu Sayyaf liveware involved in the Golden Harvest kidnappings, Canda Ibrahim Jamik and Majuk Amil, were arrested in Barangay Arena Blanco, Zamboanga City.^[26] Another Abu Sayyaf architect of the kidnappings, Ibno Ismael, was captured on June 26 hiding fit in Maharlika Village, Taguig, while another, Totoni Hairon, was captured soon after, licking in Port Area, Manila. Ismael took the name "Abu Kodano" and afflicted as a construction worker, while Hairon worked as a security guard.^[27][28]

See also

References

Further reading