ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 24, 2013) – Did you know that a key Filipino negotiator behind the successful release of kidnapped an Australian adventurer Warren Rodwell was a victim of arrogance and abuse by airport immigration officials in Sydney?
Al Rashid Sakalahul, the deputy governor of Basilan, who played a vital role in saving the life of the 54-year old Warren Rodwell, remembers well the bitter memories when in 2006, he was sent to Australia along with other government officials, to attend an important event hosted by the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines.
There, at the Sydney Airport, he was whisked away by immigration officials after a search of his luggage yielded a pack of cigarettes. And worse, when they examined his passport, his Muslim name and the province where he came from had become an issue. Even the prayer beads that he was bringing in his pocket were nearly seized.
He says his bags were slashed with a knife, and locks of his luggage destroyed in front of him by an immigration official as they searched over his things.
“They were all brute. It was really degrading. My person and my dignity were totally trampled upon by those immigration people at the Sydney Airport. It is really difficult to forget those things and up to now I can still feel the pain in my heart, but there is nothing I can do now, but to move on and put those all embarrassments behind me,” Sakalahul tells the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
Sakalahul, who belongs to a prominent family in the Muslim province of Basilan, says despite his sad experience at the hands of the Australian immigration people, never did he thought of ignoring the pleas of Rodwell’s Filipino wife, Miraflor Gutang, 28, to save the life of the Sydney man.
“I really never thought of that. The first thing that came to my mind is to save the life of that Australian man being held by the Abu Sayyaf. Rodwell’s wife sought my help and it is my duty and responsibility as a government official to help (Mira)Flor, and to save Warren’s life, and all these because of my great humanitarian concern,” he says.
Sakalahul says he expected nothing in return for saving the life of Rodwell. “I am just happy that all these problems are now over and Warren is finally reunited with his family and loved ones,” he says.
Rodwell was kidnapped in December 2011 from his seaside home in the town of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay Sur province. And before dawn on Saturday, Abu Sayyaf militants have freed Rodwell in Pagadian City in the neighboring province of Zamboanga del Sur.
“I have done my part, my duty and responsibility as an elected official of the province. When the Filipino family of Rodwell sought my help three weeks ago, I told them that I will try all my best to help them and thank God that we succeeded in bringing out Rodwell safe and alive. God has rewarded us and heard our prayers,” Sakalahul says.
In January, the Abu Sayyaf released a video of Rodwell surrounded by masked gunmen as he pleaded for his life. In that clip, one of Rodwell’s captors read a statement: “To the Australian government, in behalf of the majlisus Shura of Alharakatul Islamiyya in southern Philippines, we officially inform you that your citizen Warren Rodwell is in our custody and control since he was abducted at Ipil, Sibugay Province, Mindanao Philippines last December 5, 2011 and now facing Islamic sharee’ah, if you have concerned with your men, we will give you a chance to save his life before it’s too late, as soon as possible time, otherwise he will suffer unusual way of death.”
In the last video, Rodwell was holding a newspaper dated January 25 and his captors – one holding a machine gun and the two others brandishing automatic rifles – stood by his sides.
“To our brothers in Islam we would like to make it clear that our activities like this are not for personal interests or just to gain money for personal use, let it be known to everyone we are on war against the forces of shaytan in the Philippines, its allies and supporters, and whatever we gain from this war is to be used for our future operations and other necessities,” the Abu Sayyaf said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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