No ransom paid for Atyani's freedom – Jordan honorary consul

From GMA News (Dec 6): No ransom paid for Atyani's freedom – Jordan honorary consul



Veteran Jordanian TV reporter Baker Atyani looks at his X-ray as he undergoes a medical check-up following his release from one-and-a-half years of captivity in Sulu province late Wednesday, December 4. Atyani, who interviewed Osama Bin Laden months before the September 11, 2001 attacks, is Al-Arabiya's TV bureau chief for Southeast Asia and was doing a story on Muslim rebels in Sulu when he was kidnapped June 12, 2012 with his two Filipino crew. AP/Nickee Butlangan

The honorary consul of Jordan in the Philipines has denied that ransom was paid in exchange for the freedom of Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani, who spent 18 months in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu province.

“I do not think so because I have no information of any money having been exchanged,” said Michael Alexander M. Ang of Consulate of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Manila when asked by GMA News if ransom was paid for Atyani's freedom.

“That would never (be) part of any of the instructions or discussions in terms of anything that transpired,” he added.

Ang said they just received a call from the Philippine National Police informing them that Atyani has been found. The journalist said he escaped from his kidnappers Wednesday night.

Atyani was brought to a provincial hospital for medical treatment and is expected to fly to Manila Friday.

“We're very happy that the situation has finally been resolved,” said Ang.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said Atyani may arrive at Camp Crame between 3 to 4 p.m.

Thank you

In a television interview at the hospital, Atyani thanked the police for taking care of him.

“I'm really happy that I'm out after 18 months (with) ASG (Abu Sayyaf group). I would like to thank the PNP in Sulu and the police in Patikul who recovered me when I reached the main road leaving my kidnappers. They recovered me from there, they took me to the hospital, they've taken care of me and given me enough security,” he said.



The PNP, for its part, said it has no information whether ransom was paid or not.

“The PNP has no information as to that aspect,” said PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor in a separate interview.

Col. Jose Johriel Cenabre, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade, gave a similar statement. “That we do not know because this is a special operation of PAOCC, PNP and AFP but he was safely recovered because of our operations,” he said.

He said the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Asman Sawajaan was behind the abduction of Atyani.
Ransom demand

Agence France-Presse earlier reported that military and police sources said the Abu Sayyaf had demanded millions of dollars in ransom, though neither Atyani's family nor his employer confirmed this.

Al Arabiya News Channel, Atyani's employer, said he was released after several calls by the Cairo-based al-Azhar, Jerusalem Grand Mufti and the Islamic scholars of Mindanao, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Palestinian President Mahmoud, and after continuous follow up by the Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC) and in close cooperation with his family.

Atyani disappeared in June 2012 along with his Filipino TV crew members Romelito Vela and Roland Letrico, who were freed last February. They said they were separated from the Jordanian five days into their captivity.

Atyani was in Mindanao to shoot a documentary about Muslims in the Philippines. He was about to interview leaders of the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo when he was abducted.

Atyani is the Southeast Asia bureau chief of the Al-Arabiya News Channel. He gained fame for interviewing al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden months before the September 11, 2001 attacks.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/338603/news/nation/no-ransom-paid-for-atyani-s-freedom-jordan-honorary-consul