KIDNAPPING OR EXTORTION?

PNP Sulu Director Sr. Supt. Julasirim Kasim called last night.

Sensing his tone, he’s a bit worried .

I asked what troubling him.

He told me that Task Force Comet chief Brig. General Juancho Sabban sort of “dressed him down.”

Why?

Because Sabban objected to the word “kidnapping” for the six individuals taken by the suspected Abu Sayyaf Group under Gafur Jumdail on April 8, 2008 at Kulasi village in Maimbung town, Sulu.

“Dapat daw extortion yun, kasi wala namang involved na ransom,” Kasim explained recalling his talks with Sabban.

“Sana ma-correct mo yung report,” Kasim added in a pleading tone.

I don’t know but something struck me that I returned the same question to the police chief.

“Sir, what if I was taken by these people that authorities identified as Abu Sayyaf and I was held for more than two days, divested all my properties, then released me after several persuasion from relatives, is that extortion or kidnapping?”

What if police or military took me and detained me for more than two days, definitely my relatives may seek help or file “Writ of Amparo.”

Kasim admitted that the incident is kidnapping but it seems that military in Sulu under Sabban would like to dismiss the two incidents of abduction as extortion.

This Sabban would like to paint a different image of Sulu, he wanted to project an image of a rainbow in that God forsaken conflict areas when the reality is… you might simply end up as hostage for a day or two and military will dismiss the case as extortion.

I told Kasim that he being the police officer knows better about laws and enforcement and kidnapping is the appropriate label for the crime committed by the Jumdail’s group and not extortion, that is… unless Sabban has came out with fresh glossary of terms.

~ by julia66 on April 12, 2008.