A still image captured from video footage of the kidnappers and their victims is shown in this SITE Intelligence Group video made available to Reuters.
The military has intensified its search for four people abducted from a resort on Samal in Davao del Norte last September as the April 8 deadline to pay the ransom for their safe release draws nearer.
Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), said troops on the ground have been on a relentless and focused military operation in search of the captives.
The troops have been tracking the whereabouts of Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall; Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad; and a Filipino woman Marites Flor, who are believed to be being held in the mountains of Sulu.
Tan said there have been continuous operations to rescue the victims in the soonest possible time regardless of the deadline imposed by the Abu Sayyaf group.
He said, however, that ground troops were advised to make the victims' safety a paramount consideration.
Gunmen believed to be with the Abu Sayyaf group posted a video on social media on March 10 and gave the victims’ families until April 8 pay a ransom of P1 billion for each foreign captive.
“The deadline set is the deadline of the Abu Sayyaf, for our side we will do our best to rescue the KVs (kidnap victims) the soonest time possible as we also consider their safety as our primary concern,” Tan said.
Meanwhile, the military is also intensifying its intelligence gathering on the possible locations of 10 Indonesians and 4 Malaysians who are also believed to be being held by the Abu Sayyaf.
The Indonesians and Malaysians boat crews were abducted separately within a week of each other.
Tan said they are also consulting with Indonesian and Malaysian counterparts on the course of action for the recovery of the hostages.
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