The Abu Sayyaf Group freed three Indonesian hostages in Sionogan, Sulu early yesterday morning, a day after the extremist group released Norwegian captive Kjartan Sekkingstad.
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Both the Indonesian government and the Philippine military recognized the big role of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Saturday’s release of four kidnap victims – a Norwegian and three Indonesian fishermen.
Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said Sekkingstad would be staying overnight with the founder of MNLF, Nur Misuari, due to heavy rain, adding that the Norwegian national would be flown to the southern city of Davao on Sunday after the MNLF handed him to authorities.
Abu Sayyaf beheaded the two Canadians it seized past year with Kjartan Sekkingstad, the first one in April and the other in June, after a deadline for the payment of ransom money lapsed.
Abu Sayyaf beheaded the two Canadians it seized a year ago with Sekkingstad, the first one in April and the other in June, after a deadline for the payment of ransom money lapsed. Moro National Liberation Front is a group which is engaged in peace talks with the government and Sekkingstad spent the night at their camp.
It is based in remote Muslim-populated southern islands in the mainly Catholic Philippines, and has earned millions of dollars in ransom from kidnappings – often targeting foreigners.
Mr Duterte suggested at a news conference last month that money had been paid to the militants but that they continued to hold on to him.
“Basically, I’ve been treated like a slave, carrying their stuff around, time to time abused”, a frail-looking Sekkingstad said as he was received by a government envoy in the town of Indanan on the forested island of Jolo.
“Thank you to President Duterte”, were Sekkingstad’s precise words, according to an Inquirer report.
Duterte also mentioned that the safe release of Sekkingstad is a fulfillment of his promise to the Norwegian Government to return him alive.
The president’s spokesman Martin Andanar told AFP Duterte was heading to Davao to receive Sekkingstad.
So while Sekkingstad’s release is a much welcome development, the circumstances surrounding it beg for some answers about the administration’s stance toward the Abu Sayyaf-and, just as crucial, about the people with whom the administration is willing to work in order to secure the kidnap victims’ freedom. She was released in June after witnessing the grisly killings of Hall and Ridsdel.
Canadian John Ridsdel was beheaded in April and his compatriot, Robert Hall, was decapitated in June after huge ransom demands were not met. He But now he has hardened his position against Abu Sayyaf and branded them as terrorists as the bombing of his hometown in August.
The Abu Sayyaf has been blacklisted as a terrorist organization by the US and the Philippines for deadly bombings, kidnappings and beheadings.
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Norwegian foreign affairs communications chief Frode Andersen told Agence France-Presse by phone that “the Norwegian government does not pay ransom in this case or any other case”.
