Manila, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte said on Sunday that the “the best thing that happened to us” amidst the government’s war on drugs and terrorism was the release of Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad from the Abu Sayyaf on Saturday afternoon.
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Abu Sayyaf released Kjartan Sekkingstad at 4 p.m. (4 a.m. ET), according to Western Mindanao Command spokesman Maj.
MESSAGES of thanks are rolling in for the Philippine government and President Rodrigo Duterte after months of negotiation and weeks of fighting with Abu Sayyaf militants finally paid off last weekend with the release of four hostages – three Indonesians and a Norwegian.
Amid the offensive against them, the Abu Sayyaf had freed three Indonesian nationals who were taken from a Malaysian fishing vessel near the east coast Lahad Datu district on July 9.
“I would like to reiterate that the government maintains the no-ransom policy”.
The Abu Sayyaf freed Mr. Sekkingstad on Saturday, handing him over to Mr. Misuari who is engaged in peace talks with the government and at whose camp he spent the night, Dureza said earlier.
Abu Sayyaf beheaded the two Canadians it seized past year with Sekkingstad, the first one in April and the other in June, after a deadline for the payment of ransom money lapsed.
Also released were three Indonesians, who were also turned over to envoy Jesus Dureza.
Be Civil – It’s OK to have a difference in opinion but there’s no need to be a jerk.
“I will say this now: Your travails in life are over”.
It was thus unclear what he’d be able to tell the local Philippine authorities whom Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported on Monday were keen to question him about the group that has terrorized their country for many years.
The Norwegian said he survived more than a dozen clashes between Philippine forces and his captors in the lush jungles of Sulu province.
He said the Abu Sayyaf’s main objective is the same as of the terror groups around Southeast Asia, to “establish a caliphate” or a kingdom for Muslims in the region.
He said they were forced to carry the ASG’s belongings as the group marched through the jungles of the Southern Philippines.
It’s widely believed in the Philippines, however, that ransom money was ultimately paid to secure the release of Sekkingstad and three other Indonesian hostages over the weekend. The government of the Philippines said it did not pay the group and was unaware of any payment made by other parties.
Based in remote Muslim-populated southern islands of the mainly Catholic Philippines, its kidnappings for ransom – often of foreigners – have earned it millions.
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Duterte last month ordered the military and police to seek out the Abu Sayyaf and destroy them, the fifth Philippine President to attempt to do so.
