The four kidnap victims taken from a Samal Island resort on Sept. 21 were seen with suspected Abu Sayyaf Group members near Indanan, Sulu on Monday morning, a source in the the provincial police has said.
Citing intelligence information from Philippine Marines in the area, the information from the Sulu PNP said the four were spotted with around 300 armed men and "prominent" members of the Abu Sayyaf Group in the area of Barangay Sawaki.
Police said Abu Sayyaf leader Yasser Igasan, and sub-leaders Angah Adji, Alhabsy Misaya Mohammad Said (alias Amah Maas), Idang Susukan, Furuji Indama, Julhajan Aksan (alias Halimaw) were among the kidnappers.
Also seen with the group was suspected Jemaah Islamiya operative Abu Anas.
The kidnap victims were reportedly brought to Parang town in Sulu on Sunday afternoon on a "Fuzo watercraft" and were fetched by around 50 Abu Sayyaf members led by sub-leaders Halimaw and Alhabsy Misaya.
Police said groups of Abu Sayyaf members were then sent to different barangays in Indanan and along the shore to watch for government forces.
The four victims — a Norwegian, two Canadians, and a Filipina — were seized by at least 20 armed men wearing balaclavas and black shirts from the Ocean View Resort in Barangay Camudmud, Babak district on Samal Island in Davao del Norte on the night of Sept. 21.
Kidnap plans
Information that the Abu Sayyaf Group had been planning to kidnap foreigners and tourists in some of the resorts in Samal Island had circulated within the intelligence community as early as June, a security expert told GMA News last week.
Prof. Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said the abduction of three foreigners and their Filipino woman companion could have been prevented with the information.
"Kung nakarating sa akin, makakarating 'yan sa intelligence units natin kaya pwede siyang ma-prevent dahil umiikot na sa mga piling tao yung information," Banlaoi told GMA News.
"Anong nangyari sa pagma-manage natin ng intelligence information? Kung yung intelligence information ay nakarating sa akin, ina-anticipate ko na nakarating 'yun dapat sa otoridad at nagkaroon na ng tamang measures para ma-prevent yung mga plano nila," he added.
Senior Superintendent Robert Fajardo of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group told GMA News that the unit received information on the ASG's plan to kidnap individuals in Samal Island and intensified security in the area.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed receiving the same information.
"We have that information but hangga't hindi natin nako-confirm, it just only raw information," said Col. Noel Detoyato, the chief of the AFP Public Information Office.
Abandoned seacraft
Meanwhile, policemen on Friday recovered an abandoned seacraft in Sitio Salam Bridge, Silangkan, Parang, Sulu. The 48-foot speedboat, outfitted with two 80-horsepower engines, was spotted by members of the Barangay Peacekeepoing Force at a seaweed farm.
Authorities are still investigating whether the speedboat was used in the kidnapping in Samal Island.
Still no proof of life
A week after the abduction, authorities still waiting for proof of life. The authorities have yet to receive any ransom demand either.
Kidnap plans
Information that the Abu Sayyaf Group had been planning to kidnap foreigners and tourists in some of the resorts in Samal Island had circulated within the intelligence community as early as June, a security expert told GMA News last week.
Prof. Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said the abduction of three foreigners and their Filipino woman companion could have been prevented with the information.
"Kung nakarating sa akin, makakarating 'yan sa intelligence units natin kaya pwede siyang ma-prevent dahil umiikot na sa mga piling tao yung information," Banlaoi told GMA News.
"Anong nangyari sa pagma-manage natin ng intelligence information? Kung yung intelligence information ay nakarating sa akin, ina-anticipate ko na nakarating 'yun dapat sa otoridad at nagkaroon na ng tamang measures para ma-prevent yung mga plano nila," he added.
Senior Superintendent Robert Fajardo of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group told GMA News that the unit received information on the ASG's plan to kidnap individuals in Samal Island and intensified security in the area.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed receiving the same information.
"We have that information but hangga't hindi natin nako-confirm, it just only raw information," said Col. Noel Detoyato, the chief of the AFP Public Information Office.
Abandoned seacraft
Meanwhile, policemen on Friday recovered an abandoned seacraft in Sitio Salam Bridge, Silangkan, Parang, Sulu. The 48-foot speedboat, outfitted with two 80-horsepower engines, was spotted by members of the Barangay Peacekeepoing Force at a seaweed farm.
Authorities are still investigating whether the speedboat was used in the kidnapping in Samal Island.
Still no proof of life
A week after the abduction, authorities still waiting for proof of life. The authorities have yet to receive any ransom demand either.
No group has come forward to claim responsibility for the kidnapping incident, GMA News reported on Monday.
"Hindi tayo makapagbigay ng exact or logical presumption or assumption or impression about this," said Superintendent Antonio Rivera, the chief of the PNP public information office in Davao.
"We're still developing the intelligence.... Hindi pa tapos yung investigation so hindi pa tamang mag-bigay ng conclusion," PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said.
Aside from the boat recovered in Parang on Friday, information from Task Force Sulu showed that another seacraft was found on Sunday in Omat town.
It also has two engines and was found abandone in Barangay Niangkaan. The authorities are still verifying whether the boat has anything to do with the Samal Island abductions.
"Hindi tayo makapagbigay ng exact or logical presumption or assumption or impression about this," said Superintendent Antonio Rivera, the chief of the PNP public information office in Davao.
"We're still developing the intelligence.... Hindi pa tapos yung investigation so hindi pa tamang mag-bigay ng conclusion," PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said.
Aside from the boat recovered in Parang on Friday, information from Task Force Sulu showed that another seacraft was found on Sunday in Omat town.
It also has two engines and was found abandone in Barangay Niangkaan. The authorities are still verifying whether the boat has anything to do with the Samal Island abductions.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/538723/news/regions/samal-kidnap-victims-reportedly-seen-with-abu-sayyaf-in-sulu
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