OIC praises MNLF for hostage rescue

From the Manila Standard Today (Feb 9): OIC praises MNLF for hostage rescue

Misuari to clear air on Patikul offensive

The Moro National Liberation Front earned plaudits from the powerful Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) after its steamroller attack on terrorist Abu Sayyaf camps in the jungles of Patikul, Sulu where three foreigners, two Swiss and one Dutch, were freed from nearly one year of captivity, MNLF officials said on Friday.

MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari would provide today details of the rescue and the hostages as well as the security situation in Mindanao when he arrived in Manila after attending the OIC meeting in Sudan, Africa, MNLF panel member Absalom Cerveza said.

“The OIC was happy with the MNLF and the Chairman’s (Misuari’s) concern for the safety of the hostages and their families,” Cerveza said.

Cerveza said members of the pan-Islamic OIC gave Misuari a standing ovation for crushing the Abu Sayyaf during the two-day MNLF offensive, forcing the terrorists to abandon their camps and flee deep into the jungle in small groups with their hostages.

Misuari will arrive today at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on a flight from Egypt. The names of the hostages have been withheld since their rescue last Wednesday during an assault on the camps and the running gun battles in which 31 combatants were killed.

The Abu Sayyaf still holds nine hostages of various nationalities, including Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani. The bungled payment of P30 million ransom for the release of Atyani ignited the fighting.

MNLF spokesman Emmanuel Fontanilla said Misuari would also discuss MNLF future actions against the Abu Sayyaf and their future role in ensuring peace in Mindanao.

He said more MNLF fighters have been sent to the islands of Patikul, Sulu and Basilan to go after
Abu Sayyaf terrorists, who are now fighting native guerrillas familiar with the area.

“Our troops are hunting them down. They can run, but we know the area,” said MNLF Special Branch Service Chief Kaber Sampang.

Fontanilla lashed out at Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, who said the MNLF’s assault on the Abu Sayyaf camps to free the hostages was politically-motivated because Misuari was running for governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“This is not a personal action of the chairman (Misuari). This the MNLF position and there is nothing wrong if the MNLF helps the government,” Fontanilla said.

“Biazon should not in any way ascribe any motive to anybody. The presumption of the law is everybody is doing good. That’s what’s wrong with us. When somebody does something good, we say he has bad intentions,” he said.

Fontanilla said that in the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, which ended the long-running secessionist war waged by MNLF, resulting in the creation of the autonomous region, the MNLF was expected to extend help to the government on security matters.

“Noong pang 1976 mayroon na tayong implied agreement. Napag-usapan na iyan, na kung kailangan ng tulong ng pamahalaan, mayroon tayong mutual support. Initiative na po namin ito,” he said.

Fontanilla also denied reports that Atyani had been released after payment of P100 million ransom even before his two Filipino crew, Roando Letrero and Ramel Vela, were freed last Saturday.
“Wala pong ganoon. Dito po sa Sulu iyong mga information na iyan ay misleading, counter-information, counter-propaganda. It po sa amin naman sinasala namin,” Fontanilla said.

“As of this time, ang latest namin na information is: our commanders actually saw the Jordanian but they were not able to get him because he was brought by the Abu Sayyaf in their escape,” he said.
Atyani works for the Dubai-based Al-Arabia TV. He and his crew went into the jungles in June 2012 to do a story on the Abu Sayyaf, but the terrorists held him captive instead.

The MNLF negotiated for Atyani’s release and agreed to pay P30 million ransom, but the money disappeared when the courier was robbed by hooded gunmen, which the MNLF suspected were members of the Abu Sayyaf.

Fighting broke out when the MNLF confronted the Abu Sayyaf last Saturday and demanded the release of Atyani.

In addition to Atyani, the hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf since last year were: Warren Rodwell, an Australian kidnapped in Zamboanga in December 2011; European birdwatchers Ewold Horn and Lorenzo Vinciguerra; two unidentified Malaysians; a Japanese; and two Filipinos.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/02/09/oic-praises-mnlf-for-hostage-rescue/