That sense of impunity was further strengthened when Mr. Duterte came to power in June and forthwith ordered a stop to the pursuit of Misuari so peace talks could be held between the government and the MNLF.
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Major Felimon Tan, a regional military spokesman, said the release was the result of “ongoing military operations” targeting the group.
A Norwegian man held hostage by the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Islamist militant group in the southern Philippines since September previous year has been freed.
Indonesia’s defense minister thanked Manila and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebel group Sunday after Abu Sayyaf militants released three Indonesians and a Norwegian in the Philippines’ Muslim south.
“He is well”, Dureza said, adding that Sekkingstad would be handed over to authorities on Sunday and then flown to the southern city of Davao.
Resort manager Sekkingstad was among a group seized by Abu Sayyaf from aboard yachts at an exclusive tourist resort on Samal island, about 500 kilometres (300 miles) to the west of Sulu.
He said then that while ransom payment had been made, Sekkingstad had not yet been released as the Abu Sayyaf wanted more money.
A third hostage, a woman from the Philippines, was later released while Sekkingstad had remained in custody.
The successful negotiation that led to the victim’s release, the President said, is “the best thing that happened this week because we were able to fulfill our promise to Norway, which is giving us a space to talk vis-a-vis with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)”.
Sekkingstad and the three Indonesians were set to meet Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza at the Jolo Airport on Sunday morning.
The government denied paying ransom for the freedom of the four hostages.
The Abu Sayyaf has been blacklisted as a terrorist organization by the US and the Philippines for deadly bombings, kidnappings and beheadings.
Duterte initially thought it was the Norwegian victim, Sekkingstad, who was beheaded because if he were, “I would accuse now the Abu Sayyaf of in utter bad faith”.
Lorenzana said the shift in the attitude of the bandits started when President Rodrigo Duterte started talking to Misuari.
Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Erik Forner on one hand also thanked Duterte for his “outstanding help” to ensure the safe release of Sekkingstad.
In a statement on Monday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesman Maj.
Cerveza said Misuari was just waiting for Duterte to give the order and the MNLF would hunt down the Abu Sayyaf. They were abducted from the Sabah state of Malaysia in July. “They know some of the people from the Abu Sayyaf, and they have their own ways of dealing with the Abu Sayyaf”, Dela Cruz said.
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Governments often insist that ransoms will not be paid in such instances. Without any known foreign funding, the extremists have relied on ransom kidnappings, extortion and other acts of banditry, and some commanders have pledged loyalty to the Islamic State group partly in the hope of obtaining funds.
