Rescue efforts focused in Davao

From Malaya Business Insight (Sep 28): Rescue efforts focused in Davao

SEARCH and rescue operations for the three foreigners and a Filipina kidnapped last week from a resort in Davao del Norte remain focused in the Davao provinces despite reports that the hostages have been taken to Sulu.

The reports that said Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, and Hall’s Filipina girlfriend Marites Flor are already in Sulu are still being confirmed, said AFP spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla.

Sulu is known to be an area of operation of the bandit group Abu Sayyaf which is in the US list of terrorist groups and is the primary suspect in the September 22 kidnapping.

Padilla declined to give details on the search and rescue efforts so as not to compromise the operations. Davao del Norte is part of the Davao Region, like Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Compostela Valley.

A source said the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion, an elite Army group, has been deployed to Sulu where the Abu Sayyaf is holding at least 10 foreign and Filipino hostages. He said half of the battalion was already in Jolo town as of yesterday.

The source said the elite unit will help pursue Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron and sub-leaders holding the 10 hostages. The unit, which is coming from Central Mindanao, was requested by the Joint Task Force Sulu even before the Samal kidnapping. “It’s just incidental there is Samal kidnapping and its being blamed to the Abu Sayyaf,” the source said.

The latest victims were snatched by a group of armed men from the Holiday Oceanview resort owned by Sekkingstad on Samal Island.

Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, commander of the AFP’s Eastern Mindanao which has jurisdiction over Eastern Mindanao areas including Davao, said search operations continue.

Like Padilla, Baladad declined to give details on “operational” matters.

A military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the kidnappers and their hostages may have left the area of responsibility of Eastmincom. Pressed for the basis of his statement, the official said, “I couldn’t say because it may compromise the identity of our sources.”

Another official said the military has been getting consistent reports that the Abu Sayyaf and their hostages are already in Sulu.

“We have yet to confirm if the kidnap victims are already here… Our action agents in the intelligence community have yet to see them,” he said.

Last Friday, police found boats, suspected to have been used by the kidnappers, in Barangay Silangkan in Parang, Sulu.

One of the sources said that as of yesterday, police were still verifying if the boats were indeed used in the Samal kidnapping.

Also, the source said, a sunken speedboat was found Saturday in Omar town, Sulu. Police went there for verification and investigation, the official also said.

 http://malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/rescue-efforts-focused-davao