Today, government troops have started to pullout from war stricken Indanan, Sulu. A force with about a thousand soldiers, police and civilian emergency personnel parted ways with kidnap for ransom groups believed to hold 3 volunteers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). These are the same Abu Sayyaf kidnap for ransom groups that has been hounding the foreigners and filipinos in the Southern Philippines.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Rolando Puno also added that the pullout of government troops was done to start the negotiations for the immediate release of the three Red Cross workers.
But according to Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, there are still no news about any recent release as stipulated in their first round of negotiations. PNP Provincial Chief Superintendent Jul Asirim Kasim, also said his men had gone to the Municipality of Maimbong in the same province for this same reason. Abu Sayyaf Commander Al Bader Parad was said to have been holding the three and the pullout was done so talks could resume for their release. No one has notified them that negotiators would actually come from either sides too so there is a big confusion on the field. Puno asked to pullout the 8 untis of military, police and Civilian Emergency Forces in the hopes of getting these people into safety. Everyone else like me is watching for developments as they happen. I'll try and keep you posted!
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