MNLF: Jordanian journalist Atyani still Sayyaf's captive

From GMANews (Feb 8): MNLF: Jordanian journalist Atyani still Sayyaf's captive

Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani who was kidnapped in June 2012 is still being held by the bandit Abu Sayyaf group, a Moro National Liberation Front commander said Friday.

MNLF Sulu Commander Ustadz Habier Malik was quoted by Arnold Clavio on "Unang Balita" as saying he talked to the kidnappers himself about the status of Atyani.

Malik added that the ASG won't release Atyani without the P50 to P130 million the bandits demanded.

Last Sunday, ASG released Atyani's two Filipino TV crew Ramil Vela and Buboy Letriro, who were seized with Atyani last year.

It was not clear whether Vela and Letriro had paid ransom money for their release.

A day after the release of the two, a clash between the MNLF and the ASG in Patikul town erupted, leaving 22 people dead.

Eight MNLF members were killed, while ASG's side had 14 fatalities, according to Col. Orlando de Leon, Commander of the Sulu-based 2nd Marine Brigade.

Also De Leon said the clash involving over 200 armed men from each camp supposedly stemmed from the ASG's refusal to heed the MNLF's appeal to halt its kidnapping activities in the area.

Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos said in the report that four of the fallen MNLF members were beheaded.

Aside from Atyani, Dutchman Elwold Horn, Swiss national Lorenzo Vinciguerra and Japanese treasure hunter Katayama Mamaito are still being held captive in Sulu by the ASG.

According to security officials, Horn and Vinciguerra were abducted in February last year while Mamaito has been held captive since July 2010.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/294030/news/regions/mnlf-jordanian-journalist-atyani-still-sayyaf-s-captive