MNLF helped in release of 6 kidnap victims, successful operations vs Abus – military official

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 21): MNLF helped in release of 6 kidnap victims, successful operations vs Abus – military official

The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has been of help in the recent successful intensified operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu and Basilan which resulted to the release of 6 kidnap victims – a Norwegian, 3 Indonesians and 2 Filipinos over the weekend, a military official here said.

Major Filemon Tan, spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) told the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) that the MNLF’s cooperation in the focused military operations has been instrumental in the release of the ASG kidnap victims Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, Indonesian fishermen Lorence Koten, Teo Doros Kofong and Emmanuel Arakian.

On Sunday (September 18), kidnapped Filipino telephone company contractors Daniela Taruc and Levy Gonzales were also freed.

“We coordinate with the MNLF, we inform them of our operations, and they would cooperate by leaving the areas so that there will be no misencounter,” Maj. Tan explained, “which has been very helpful in our focused military operations.”

He said that the military has already been expecting the recent release of the kidnap victims because “the ASG is already being pressured too much” due to the continuous “land, air, naval and police operations.”

“Takbo ng takbo na sila, we expected this,” he said. (They are on the run.)

According to Maj. Tan, the MNLF has been known to be helpful to the military. “They have been engaged in encounters with the ASG, even resulting to the death of one ASG commander.”     
                                                                      
The ASG still has 16 remaining hostages, according to Maj. Tan.  

Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar clarified earlier that the government maintains the no ransom policy, and that they are not aware if an alleged Php100-million ransom for Sekkingstad’s liberty was paid by the family.

It can be recalled that Sekkingstad’s companions, Robert Hall and John Ridsel were beheaded in April and June by the ASG. They were kidnapped by the terror group in Samal Island together with Filipina Marites Flor last year.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2651474359429/mnlf-helped-in-release-of-6-kidnap-victims-successful-operations-vs-abus-military-official