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Negotiators in contact with kidnappers of 2 female social workers in Basilan
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Negotiators have finally established contact with two kidnapped aid workers a month after they were taken by alleged members of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf in Basilan province. Claretian priest Fr. Angel C. Calvo, president of Nagdilaab Foundation, Inc., employer of one of the two captives, told BusinessWorld that Basilan Vice-Governor Alrasheed Sakalahul talked with the two on Tuesday night. Esperancita "Espie" E. Hupida of Nagdilaab and Millet B. Mendoza of Mercy Malaysia are safe but weak. "From what I was informed, Espie and Millet are sick but the good thing is that they are alive, and we have established a direct contact," Mr. Calvo said. He said the negotiations were futile in past few weeks "because there were many bogus callers trying to convince us that they had Espie and Millet." Earlier, a certain Amir called the captives’ employers and families and asked for a "P1-million negotiation fee." Mr. Calvo said the direct contact on Tuesday was not made through Amir. He said the abductors did not ask for a ransom amount, and that they are still waiting for another call. "Again, we are appealing for the captors to release Espie and Millet. I’m asking the whole civil society in Mindanao to help resolve this incident. This kidnapping activity is a threat to the whole society," he said. Some 20 armed men, many of them minors, flagged down the two vehicles of the abducted aid workers, who were with 10 other community workers during a community visit in the town of Tipo-Tipo on Sept. 15. The others escaped but Misses Hupida and Mendoza were held captive. Law enforcement officers in Basilan noted the latest kidnapping incident could be a "test mission" for new members of the Abu Sayyaf. Basilan provincial police chief Superintendent Salik Macapantar said that they have the identities of the suspects following debriefing from the escaped victims. — Darwin T. Wee, BusinessWorld
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