Pressure on Abus led to release of hostages

Soldiers walk along a highway as they return to camp after an armed encouter with members of militant group Abu Sayyaf at the village of Bongkaong, Patikul town, Sulu province on the southern island of Mindanao in this August 26, 2016 photo.(/Inquirer.net)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday said the pressure that the government has been putting on the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group led to the recent release of its captives.

Echoing the statement of Peace Process Adviser Jesus Dureza, AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the government sought the help of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) for the release of Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad on Saturday.

“We do know that much of the pressure that has been applied to the group has caused many of these events to unfold,” Padilla said over ABS-CBN News Channel.

“We did seek the assistance of the MNLF, and they have extended their cooperation,” he added.

Sekkingstad, one of the four people captured by the bandit group in Samal last year, was released around 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Dureza said Sekkingstad stayed overnight in the place of MNLF chair Nur Misuari who, he said, helped in the release and volunteered to host his stay due to bad weather.

Two of Sekkingstad’s companions, Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, were beheaded separately. Hall’s Filipino girlfriend Marites Flor was also freed in June.

MNLF on Sunday said three Indonesian nationals were also freed by the Abu Sayyaf and were already with Misuari in Indanan town. However, Padilla said the AFP has yet to confirm the information from their men on the ground.

The freed victims were identified as Lorens Koten, Theodores Kopon and a certain Manuel. Sulu-based professor Octavio Dinampo said he had “heard P30 million was paid to the Abu Sayyaf Group.”