In the early hours of Sunday morning, the Abu Sayyaf freed three more hostages – Indonesians Lorens Koten, 34; Theodorus Kopong, 42; and Emanuel Arakain, 46, who were abducted in July while fishing off the coast of Malaysia’s Sabah state.
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While its leaders have in recent years pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, analysts say the Abu Sayyaf is mainly focused on a lucrative kidnapping business rather than religious ideology. “And I would like to thank, of course, Sakur Tan, the former governor of Sulu”, said Duterte. After the fighting eased, he discovered that he wasn’t hit, and that his green, army-style backpack had been pierced by the gunfire instead.
Sekkingstand was freed in Sulu around 4 p.m. Saturday.
On Sunday, the heavily bearded Sekkingstad, clad in a rebel camouflage uniform and muddy combat boots, was asked how he would describe his horrific experience.
Duterte himself had said as much in an interview with reporters on August 25, when he mentioned that P50 million had been paid for the Norwegian’s release.
The Abu Sayyaf, a ragtag group of several hundred gunmen, is notorious for ransoming off foreigners.
John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, the two Canadians seized with Sekkingstad, were beheaded after a ransom demand of about 300 million pesos (6.5 million) was not met. Ridsdel was murdered in April and Hall in June. When Ms Flor was freed in June, she recounted in horror how the militants rejoiced while watching the beheadings.
Last week at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he was considering shifting priority away from the U.S. for acquisition of defense equipment.
Mr. Dureza for his part said Mr. Sekkingstad’s “release from captivity capped months of quiet, patient but determined efforts with the assistance of all sectors”.
It is unclear whether a ransom was paid to secure Sekkingstad’s release. The military said on Saturday that relentless assaults forced the extremists to release the hostage.
Sekkingstad stayed overnight at the residence of Misuari, who volunteered to host his stay because of heavy rains.
“The Philippines authorities have confirmed that Sekkingstad is no longer being held prisoner by the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas”, Brende told NRK after being in contact with the Philippines peace minister Jesus Dureza. “If that is what you want”, Duterte told Sekkingtad when the latter was presented to him at the Matina Enclaves Sunday evening, November 18.
“It’s (the release of Norwegian) is a good development and the government’s war against terrorism will continue”, he said.
“I would like to reiterate that the government maintains the no-ransom policy”, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told government radio.
Retired General Kivlan Zen of the Indonesian military will take custody of the three Indonesians.
The militant group spokesperson Abu Ramie said that it received a $638,000 ransom for Sekkingstad’s release. They were flown from Sulu to the Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City, where they were turned over to Indonesian authorities led by Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu.
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President Duterte has promised to give justice to kidnap victims of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
