Misuari, seen with MNLF followers in this September 2014 Agence France-Presse file photo, was credited by President Duterte with helping secure the release of Abu Sayyaf captive Kjartan Sekkingstad.
Freed Abu Sayyaf hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad relished his newfound freedom on Sunday, after he was presented by President Rodrigo Duterte to the media in Davao City, following the Norwegian national's release on Saturday.
Duterte gave full praise to his Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, and MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari, for securing the release of Sekkingstad. Duterte also gave credit to former Sulu Governor Sakur Tan.
"I'm very happy to be alive and free. It's a beautiful feeling," Sekkingstad said, after expressing his "heartfelt thank you" to those responsible for his release.
According to Duterte, Misuari had negotiated with the Abu Sayyaf for the release, after armed men abducted Sekkingstad, together with Canadians Robert Hall and John Ridsdel, and Filipina Marites Flor, in August last year at the Ocean View Samal Resort in Samal, Davao del Norte. Other reports put the kidnapping at September, also last year.
Ridsdel and Hall were beheaded in April and June, respectively. Flor was released also in June, a few weeks after Hall's execution.
"It was a long, long negotiation, as far as I'm concerned," Duterte said, noting that he had talked to Misuari on the phone during Cabinet meetings. The latter said he needed time, but promised that he would succeed.
The President said he had simply been "directing" the three - Misuari, Dureza and Tan - with regard to going about the job, and had invested in them "the full authority to negotiate" and ensure that nothing like it happened again.
According to Dureza, they took Sekkingstad into custody at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, recovering him from Misuari's camp. In turn, said Dureza, Misuari received Sekkingstad from his captors on Saturday.
According to reports, an Abu Sayyaf spokesman said they received P30 million in ransom.
3 Indonesians released
Dureza added that they also received three abducted Indonesians, who were then turned over to a representative of the Indonesian government in Jolo on Sunday. They were already on their way to Jakarta.
"Your travails in life are over, until such time that we get the... you want true justice, we will give them," Duterte told Sekkingstad, who is set to return home soon.
"Is it safe in Mindanao? I cannot tell you now, but we are trying our very best to put order in this country," Duterte told the media. "We would need time to put everything in order."
"Terrorism is everywhere. New York just blew up. So wala tayong (we have no)... there is no escaping terrorism. That is the next great battle of the century, terrorism and civilization," he added. The President was referring to the "intentional" explosion that injured 29 people in New York's Chelsea district at the weekend.
http://interaksyon.com/article/132543/duterte-cites-nurs-role-in-release-of-abu-sayyaf-captives-says-terrorism-everywhere
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.