Duterte says he has plans for Abu Sayyaf
President-elect Rodrigo Duterte vowed to work for the release of the remaining foreign nationals and a Filipina kidnapped by armed men from the Island Garden City of Samal held captive by the Abu Sayyaf, in a midnight press conference Wednesday.
Duterte said he already has his plans for the Abu Sayyaf which he will put it into action once he assumes the presidency.
“I have something in my mind but nobody would be privy to that except the military and police. I intend to do it when I am there in the Office of the President,” he said.
The latest video released by the Abu Sayyaf showed Samal kidnap victims Canadian Robert Hall and his Filipina girlfriend Marites Flor, and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad appealing for Duterte’s help.
“We have a hundred people heavily armed around us all the time that dictate to us and talk to us like children. We’ve been humiliated in every way possible. One of us has already been murdered. We hope that you can work on our behalf as soon as possible to get us out of here. Please, the sooner the better. We’re three-quarters dead right now. Thank you,” Hall said in the video.
Hall, Sekkingstad, Flor, and Canadian John Ridsdell were kidnapped by armed men from the Ocean View Marina on Samal near Davao City on Sept. 21, 2015. Ridsel was beheaded last April 25 after the Abu Sayyaf did not receive P300-million ransom demanded from the Canadian and Philippine governments.
The Abu Sayyaf has threatened to behead one of the remaining Samal Island hostages if their ransom demand for them amounting to P600 million is not paid by 3 p.m. on June 13.
Meanwhile, Duterte is set to meet his friend Nur Misuari, chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), over reports of a supposed snub to Misuari’s emissary Rev. Absalom Cerveza at the Matina Enclaves,where Duterte has been staying, last May 16.
Duterte said he was getting in touch with Misuari’s camp for his planned visit to Jolo since the latter cannot come out in public because he is considered a fugitive.
Duterte’s impending Jolo visit raised speculations he might asked Misuari’s help for the release of the kidnap victims. The MNLF facilitated the recent release of Indonesian nationals taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf.
Duterte would not confirm this, saying only that he wanted to personally talk with Misuari over the snub issue. The mayor said there was no intention to snub Cerveza or the MNLF because no information had reached him or his office about Cerveza’s coming to see him/
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