Kidnapped prof wonders why their guide was not charged

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Juamil “Maming” Biyaw, the man accused of delivering broadcast journalist Ces Drilon, her crew and peace advocate professor Octavio Dinampo to their Abu Sayyaf captors, has so far not been charged with kidnapping.

In a phone interview Sunday, Dinampo said he was wondering why Biyaw was not included in the charges the police filed against 17 suspects in the kidnapping, led by Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son Haider.

“He (Biyaw) was the one who made the arrangements, including the time and place, and left us in the hands of our captors,” Dinampo said.

He said Biyaw was closely associated with the military as an “asset.”

“The crime committed here is kidnapping and one missing link, I guess, is at large, and some people would like to take him and I am hoping Biyaw will speak the truth to clear all these issues,” Dinampo said.

He said he learned that Biyaw had been turned over to the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Western Mindanao for interrogation.

“I am aware there are some people who are working for his release. I hope he is still with the CIDG,” Dinampo, a Western Mindanao University professor, said.

Dinampo, however, refused to reveal the identities of the “influential people” who were allegedly working for Biyaw’s release.

Biyaw is a kagawad at Barangay Sandah village in Patikul, Sulu. He is known to the community as a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front, and as a military asset instrumental to the surrender of former MNLF combatants to the 3rd Marine Brigade.

But no one could point to Biyaw’s link to Isnaji, who had negotiated for the release of the captives but is now being accused of having a part in the kidnapping.

What was clear to him, Dinampo said, was that Biyaw, Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron and Isnaji were all former MNLF members.

“Biyaw is related to Radulan, and most of his relatives are now with the latter, but Biyaw and Isnaji are not related,” he said.

Dinampo earlier said Sahiron’s men were behind their abduction.

Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao, police chief in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said they had not “established the link between Biyaw and Isnaji in the kidnapping and their relationship.”

“I haven’t read the CIDG report on Biyaw. As far as I know, this guy is still with the CIDG Western Mindanao,” Goltiao added.

Chief Supt. Jose Pante, head of the CIDG in Western Mindanao, confirmed that Biyaw was still in their “protective custody.”

“But he is not saying anything. Ayaw niyang magsalita (He doesn’t want to talk),” Pante said.

Goltiao said Biyaw remained a suspect. “The fact he is still being held for further interrogation means he is one of the suspects.”

Senior Supt. Julasirim Kasim, Sulu police chief, also said Biyaw was still a suspect in the kidnapping.

“Hindi ko bibitiwan ang driver ni Madame Ces, dahil siya lang makakapagsabi sa relation ni Biyaw sa kidnapping (I will not release the driver of Madame Ces because he is the only one who can tell us Biyaw’s role in the kidnapping),” Kasim said, referring to Marama Hashim, the driver hired by Drilon’s group to drive them when they were abducted in Barangay Adjid in Indanan town on June 8.

Hashim said it was Biyaw who led Drilon’s group to the kidnappers in a forested area in Indanan and returned alone four hours later.(PDI)