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Zambo mayor condemns Sayyaf beheading of workers |
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Source SunStar
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Monday, 23 April 2007 |
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MAYOR Celso Lobregat on Friday condemned the execution of seven workers in Sulu, six of whom are construction workers from Zamboanga City, by the Abu Sayyaf, stressing that the long arm of the law will catch up with the perpetrators soon.
"We condemn the murder and we condemn the terrorists who did those acts," Lobregat declared, as he ordered City Social Welfare and Development Officer Francisco Barredo to look after the needs of the victims' survivors.
Upon learning of the incident, Lobregat immediately contacted Col. Mark Anthony Supnet, chief of Task Force Comet based in Sulu, as well as Sulu Gov. Benjamin Loong for possible assistance to the victims' relatives.
For their dastardly acts, the suspects should be meted the full force of the law, according to Lobregat.
Senator Francisco Pangilinan, who arrived in Zamboanga City Friday, agreed, saying government must be further emboldened to get the Abu Sayyaf following the beheading incident.
"Terrorism must be met with the full force of the law," Pangilinan said.
Reports indicate that the construction workers, earlier kidnapped by the terrorist group, were beheaded by their captors after Governor Loong rejected the group's demand for a P5 million ransom.
The hostages were kidnapped April 15 in Parang, Sulu. Their bodies were found Friday, a day after their severed heads were sent to two military detachments in the province.
Of the six Zamboanguenos, three are from Barangay Malagutay and the three others are reportedly from Divisoria. Malagutay barangay chair Emerita Caringal identified her beheaded constituents as Roger Francisco, Wilner Santos, and Jelowie Teodoro.
The three others were identified as Nonoy Ampoy, Toto Milas, and Dennis de los Reyes. The seventh victim was a fish dryer-worker and was said to be from Jolo. All the victims were working for a construction firm owned by Loong in the province.
The victims were heading to work when militants kidnapped them. The police and military tagged the leader of the gang as Albader Parad, a notorious Abu Sayyaf commander, blamed for the spate of attacks against civilians and military targets in Jolo.
Lobregat said the City Government will provide burial assistance and other possible support to the victims' families. He said Loong has also assured to provide financial aid to the victims' survivors.
Meanwhile, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said the incident "clearly tells us that the campaign versus terrorism must continue" and that it shows that the perpetrators have no mercy and are ruthless.
However, he stressed, in tandem with the anti-terrorism campaign, the government must also address the poverty problem in the province and other parts of the country. (SE)
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