Friday, June 24, 2016

WESMINCOM verifying on whether 7 Indon sailors snatched by ASG

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 24): WESMINCOM verifying on whether 7 Indon sailors snatched by ASG

The Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) on Friday said it is still confirming reports that another seven Indonesian sailors were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists in the Sulu Sea.

"With regards to the alleged kidnapping of 7 Indonesian sailors this morning, Indonesian authorities confirmed that there were seven Indonesians who were kidnapped by armed men. Though this report reached the WESMINCOM, we are currently validating the veracity of the report on the ground and will give details as soon as we have information with regards to this issue," said WESMINCOM spokesperson Major Filemon Tan.

This came in wake of the ASG bandits released of Filipina captive Marites Flor early Friday morning.

Flor, the girlfriend of beheaded Canadian captive Robert Hall, was freed by her captors around 4:30 a.m. in front of the home of Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan in Barangay Asturias, Jolo.

She was turned over to Joint Task Force Sulu at around 11 a.m. and underwent medical examination and debriefing.

"Western Mindanao Command is glad that Ms. Flor is now safe and is on her way back to her family and can enjoy a normal life with them again. We have no updates on the other kidnapping victims," Tan said.

Hall was beheaded last June 13 while fellow Canadian John Ridsel was executed by the bandits last April after the Philippine and Canadian governments snubbed the ASG's ransom demand.

It was still unknown on whether ransom was paid to secure Flor's release. Still at the hands of the bandits is Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstand.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=898381

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