AFP intensifies operations vs Sayyaf

From the Philippine Star (Apr 10): AFP intensifies operations vs Sayyaf

The military leadership has intensified its military operations to rescue foreign and local hostages of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu.

Col. Noel Detoyato, Armed Forces of the Philippines-Public Affairs Office chief, said as of yesterday, ground operations are continuing in the island province as well as in Basilan, where the bandits are believed to be keeping the hostages.

On Friday evening, the bandits released Italian former priest Rolando del Torchio, who was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Dipolog City last October, following reported ransom payoff amounting to P29 million.

“Ground operations are ongoing. We could not just disclose specific areas where these operations are being carried out,” Detoyato said, referring to ongoing military and police efforts to rescue Canadians John Ridsdel, Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipina Maritess Flor.

Unidentified gunmen snatched the four from the Samal Island resort in Davao del Norte last September.

The four subsequently ended up in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu, who have been demanding P1 billion for each of the victims in exchange for their freedom.

The bandits on March 8 warned that something terrible will happen to the four if their demand is not met in a month’s time.

There were reports that separate efforts were launched to negotiate with the kidnappers.

However, talks failed after negotiators backed out due to unreasonable ransom demands by the bandit group.

“We are taking this threat seriously and we are doing everything to resolve the problem,” Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman, Maj. Filemon Tan said.

Meanwhile, government troops encountered a group of Abu Sayyaf militants in the hinterlands of Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, leaving 22 soldiers wounded yesterday.

Westmincom spokesman Tan said the joint elements of the 44th Infantry Battalion and 4th Special Forces Battalion encountered about 120 members of the Abu Sayyaf at Sitio Bayoko, Barangay Baguindan.

He said the firefight started at 7:55 a.m and lasted about an hour, leaving an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf dead and wounded.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/04/10/1571381/afp-intensifies-operations-vs-sayyaf