MEMOIRS OF A (Hostage) CRISIS

MEMOIRS OF A (Hostage) CRISIS
When freedom & Life is at stake!

The year 2000 and 2001 has been one of the most violent years for us. Personally, this experience has helped strengthened my self as I dealt with this unfortunate incident. I decided to write this in order not to be forgotten as the years go by.

I do not wish to bring back sad and bad memories brought by this nightmare nor enkindle again the flame of hatred by victims towards their extremist kidnappers and supporters in the government. I only wish that this must not happen again.

March 20, 2001- About 70 fully armed members of the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) swooped down and attacked our remote village of Tumahubong, Sumisip, Basilan. Took over Claret High School of Tumahubong and Tumahubong Elementary School and held captives 53 school children, teachers and a Priest before fleeing to their forested hide out in Mt. Punoh Mahadje in Sampinit, Basilan.

The incident sparked a crisis. The extremist group demanded freedom for their comrades jailed in the US namely: Sheik Abdurahman Omar, Yousef Ramsi and Abu Haider; plus 2 companions imprisoned at the Basilan Provincial Jail namely: Hadjirul Ampul and Ustadz Patta, in exchange for the freedom of the remaining children hostages.

Other demands include prohibition of illegal fishing by big fishing boats in the waters of Basilan, Sulu & Tawi-Tawi; allow Muslim students to practice religious rights & obligations, and the last demand which threatens the Christians in Basilan: STOP the putting of crosses in the island.

All the demands were not met. In the ensuing battle and stand off, 5 teachers were killed including Claretian Missionary Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, cmf; 2 were beheaded as a gift to former President Erap Estrada.The children hostages were freed earlier in batches in exchange for some demands of food stuff and undetermined cash.

There were tales of horrors in the hands of the kidnappers which only the victims could divulge.

Barely a month later, on April 23, 2000; Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf Group held a lightning raid at Malaysia’s Sipadan Island Resort and took hostage 21 foreign tourists and brought them to Sulu.

A crisis of international magnitude was born. Of the hostages; 2 were French, 3 Germans, 2 South Africans, 1 Lebanese-French, 3 Finnish, 8 Malaysians and 2 Filipinos. Their demands: dollars, dollars, and dollars!

It was believed that millions of dollars in ransom was paid for the freedom of the hostages. This is biggest haul ever, and this made the terrorist group “a bunch of millionaires”. NOT ONLY the terrorist group, but also the negotiators from the Philippine government and other mediators of ransom became millionaires too.

Again there were tales of horrors committed by the kidnappers which only the victims could reveal.

I was then an insignificant writer/reporter from a government information agency when I covered these events. I even experienced being held hostage albeit for only 5 hours during the initial negotiation phase held inside a mosque at Bandang, Talipao, Sulu.

The folly of these events reflects the weakness of the government in dealing with the terrorists. What’s more disgusting and very disappointing are allegations of connections or connivance of the terrorist group with some high ranking officials in the government.

Only the hostages could reveal who they are; for they were the ones who facilitate the safe exchange of ransom from the victim’s families to the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Life and freedom has been put at stake in these two particular incidents. Three (3) of the youngest hostages in the March 20 Tumahubong Hostage-taking Incident were my nephews. Crisalyn, 4 years old, the youngest of them all celebrated her 5th birthday in the jungle hideout of the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Life and freedom is priceless and only death could take them away. Nobody, even governments or terrorist groups have the right to take this away from us.

AID FOR BASILAN CHILDREN INSPIRES RENEWED HOPE

by: Danilo C. Escabarte


Lamitan, Basilan, Southern Philippines- Scarred by the protracted conflict that rocked the island province, from the fight for secession in 1970s to late 1980s until the much publicized June 2, 2001 Siege of Lamitan town by the terrorists extremist Abu Sayyaf Group ; Basileños have endured violence and longed for that elusive peace to come back.

Its more than seven years now since I set foot where that June 2 nightmare took place to cover the unfolding of events, not to witness violence; but to talk to two children who are scholars of PhilAm Foundation, Inc. in Lamitan. They are students of the Lamitan Central Elementary School at whose gate fronting the St. Peter's Parish Church, parked a destroyed 6x6 M35 military truck hit by a rocket-propelled-grenade (RPG) fired by the Abu Sayyaf Group. That was years ago during the Lamitan Siege. Beverly Samson and Krusheva Caroline Caimoy are now Freshmen in High School. No longer scared but joyful and friendly youngsters. Fear can no longer be seen in their young faces unlike years ago. We talked freely after introducing each other as if we have already met before.


" Of course dili gyud ko kalimut, ningtago mi sa underground sa foxhole tungod sa kahadlok sa pinusilay " (of course I cannot forget, we hide underground in a fox hole because of fear, there was gunbattle, firefight), Beverly said as she recalled her experiences during the siege of their town. "Pagka-ugma ningbakwit mi paingon sa pantalan aron kung magka-inunsa, makalarga mi dayon para Zamboanga", (we evacuated the following day towards the wharf so that if anything happens, we can go to Zamboanga immediately), she added. Zamboanga City is a one-hour boat ride from Lamitan, Southern Philippines. Krusheva Caroline and her family were herded to safety at her aunt's house. "Nakikita ko sa malayo umuusok ang bahay", (I can see from a distance smoke billowing out from a house), referring to burning houses in the vicinity of the church and hospital during the siege.




Several houses were razed to the ground as a result of the siege. The parish church was peppered with machine gun fire destroying the bell tower and seats inside. Several nurses and civilians were taken captives and were added to the hostaged group of American hostages Martin and Gracia Burnham. However, violence did not dampen their interest in going back to school. Weeks later after the siege, they went back to school…although escorted by still worried parents.



POVERTY, A LIGHTER BURDEN NOW

Beverly and Krusheva Caroline endured poverty since childhood. "Kasagaran kung mopalit mi ug school supplies, wala na miy para sud-an", (oftentimes when we will buy school supplies we will no longer have viand during mealtime), Beverly said. Her father is a porter (kargador) in the local wharf while her mother a simple housewife.
"Ako isang uniporme lang sa buong taon. Kung bibili kami ng school supplies, wala na akong pang-recess ilang araw", (I have only one set of uniform for the whole year. If we will buy school supplies it would mean no money during recess time for several days), Krusheva also said. Both were happy when they were among those selected to become scholars of of PhilAm Foundation, Inc. They will receive help through the Aid for Basilan Children or ABC Project. "At least yung pambili namin ng school supplies ay magagamit na para ibili ng pagkain", (at least the money for school supplies could now be used to buy food), Beverly said. "Ang aming uniporme ok na, may pambayad pa kami ng enrollment fee", (our uniform is ok now and we still have money to pay our enrollment fee), Krusheva also added. Under the ABC Project, scholars receive school supplies, uniforms, shoes and enrolment fees.

WINNING GOLD IN MATH COMPETITION Krusheva Caroline and Beverly were not used to joining out-of-school competion that's why they felt nervous when the news came that they will be representing their school in the Division Level Math Competition. During the Science and Math Encampment, Beverly won 1st placer in Math division level competition and Krusheva Caroline also got the 1st place both for Math Puzzle and Math Quizzbee. The latter was held in Isabela City. "Kinabahan ako", (I was nervous), Beverly said. She won over seven competing schools in her category. "My mother was happy upon knowing that I made it to the top while my father cannot believe it", she added. "I was nervous and at the same time eager to know the results, I was happy and thankful", Krusheva said. Both children and the other scholars are being handled by competent teachers who undergone various trainings assisted by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) through the project, complemented with various teaching equipment. "Thank you very much to PhilAm Foundation. I hope they will continue what they started. There are still other children who needed help", Beverly said. "I hope other companies will also help other children like us. There are many children who cannot go to school due to poverty", Krusheva said.
We parted ways, as I bade them goodbye with the hope that we will be seeing each other again someday.

Basilan is such a beautiful island that many tourists visited the place before the outbreak of conflict. Nice sandy white beaches dot the island, and it is also here that the first rubber plantation in the Philippines was established by Dr. James W. Strong, an American.

Beverly and Krusheva represent the other side of Basilan. Children affected by conflict but rose up after a tragedy. Poverty or violence cannot prevent them from pursuing a brighter future now.