The government chief negotiator, Secretary
Robert Aventajado, head of the Flaghip Projects and Program Committee, yesterday asked
journalists to leave Jolo, Sulu to prevent the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) from
kidnaping and holding them hostage.
He said the police and the militay cannot guarantee the
safety of the journalists.
Aventajado made the call following the kidnaping on July 24
of ABS-CBN cameraman Val Cuenca and his wife, Maan Macapagal, a researcher.
German writer Andreas Lorenz of the prestigious Der Spiegel
magazine was freed last Thursday by Jolo's armed band after 25 days in captivity. Also
released was Danilo Cuarteros, a Filipino preacher.
Cuenca and Macapagal were on their way back to Jolo town
after interviewing last Monday a leader of an ASG faction from Basilan when they were
waylaid by Commander Mujin Abdullah, who was decscribed by Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan as
having only less than 10 followers.
Tan said last Tuesday that Abdullah's ASG faction has
demanded P10 million ransom for the release of the mediamen couple.
Aventajado said in a radio inteview over DZMM last Friday
that the government is not trying to curtail the journalists' right to gather information,
"but there must be a balance somewhere" because the government is being blamed
if anyone is abducted."
He said it would be better if journalists switch their base
from Jolo to Zamboanga City where government negotiators are also encamped.
