AFP: Sekkingstad's release a result of military pressure vs Abu Sayyaf

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): AFP: Sekkingstad's release a result of military pressure vs Abu Sayyaf

The massive military operations against the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the hinterlands of Sulu have resulted in the release of Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad from his captors, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said the military continues to verify claims that ransom has been paid to secure Sekkingstad's release.

"We don't have that information, although we can also validate that on the ground," Arevalo said.

Arevalo said the massive military operations against the terrorists has something to do with the release of the Norwegian captive.

"(The) unrelenting conduct of operations (against) the ASG (may have contributed heavily to Sekkingstad's release). Remember that we have sea, air and land operations being conducted against them and after several contacts against them, we have received reports that they have splintered into smaller group to evade pursuit operations against them," Arevalo added in Filipino.

"And if you have kidnap victims, they would definitely retard the ASG's movement and take a toll on their attempt to evade our soldiers," he stressed.

Sekkingstand was freed in Sulu around 4 p.m. Saturday. He was abducted together with Canadians John Ridsdel, Robert Hall and Filipina Marites Flor on Sept. 21, 2015 at the Ocean View Resort in Samal Island.

Both Hall and Ridsdel were beheaded by the bandits while Flor was freed by the ASG last June 22.

The unrelenting military pressure against the bandits also prompted the terrorists to release three of their Indonesian captives Saturday night.

These men were identified as fishermen Lorence Koten, Teo Doros Kofong and Emmanuel Arakian.

They were released in an unspecified location, according to Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Major Filemon Tan. All three were abducted off Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia.

The victims were brought to Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for medical examination and debriefing.

 

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=924104

2 more Filipino victims freed by ASG in Sulu Sunday

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): 2 more Filipino victims freed by ASG in Sulu Sunday

Massive military operations has forced the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) to free two of their Filipino kidnap victims in Sulu Sunday night.

"On Sept. 18, 2016 at 10:30 pm, kidnap victims Daniela Taruc and Levy Gonzales were released by their ASG captors in Barangay Tiptipon, Panglima Estino, Sulu," Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Major Filemon Tan, in a message to the PNA, Monday said.

Tan said the released kidnap victims were identified as Levy Gonzales, 30 and Daniela Taruc, 26, both employees of Power City Corporation, a sub-contractor of a telecommunication firm.

They were kidnapped by undetermined armed men in Barangay Timpook, Patikul, Sulu last August 6.

The two were immediately brought to the headquarters of the Joint Task Force Sulu to undergo medical check-up prior their turn over to authorities.

"The release is the result of the continuous effort of the Joint Task Force Sulu, led by Brig. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, in its continuing focused military operations in collaboration with police counterparts to destroy the ASG in the province," Tan said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=924105

AFP to support police in anti-drug operations but says PNP still lead agency

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): AFP to support police in anti-drug operations but says PNP still lead agency

While the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is willing to play a role in the ongoing campaign against illegal drugs, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is still the lead agency in the operations.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to share the "narco list" to the military is for the latter to be in the know and able to support the PNP if required.

"The context of (President Duterte's sharing of the 'narco list' over the weekend) is information sharing so that the AFP can help the PNP in addressing the problem," he added in Filipino.

And there is nothing usual in the military in helping police carry out law enforcement missions as there some areas in the country where the PNP is thin on the ground, Arevalo pointed out.

"We in the AFP believe on the capability of our police counterparts (and) when our help will be so needed we will be there to support them," he stressed.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=924123

DOJ may lift Misuari's warrant of arrest

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): DOJ may lift Misuari's warrant of arrest

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday announced a possible lifting of the warrant of arrest issued against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari in connection with his role in the 2013 Zamboanga City siege.

He said this as part of the government's effort to pursue peace negotiations with Moro rebels as he already talked to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza on the matter.

“That is part of the peace talk. I think there will be no problem with respect to the MNLF. Nag-usap na kami ni Secretary Dureza, meron na kaming gagawin dun,” Aguirre told reporters during the press briefing Monday at the DOJ main office in Manila.

Misuari and his key commanders Ustadz Habier Malik, Assamin Bas Arki and Assamin Hussin were charged with rebellion and violation of Republic Act 9851 or the "Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity."

The charges were initially filed before the Zamboanga RTC but it was transferred to the Pasig RTC upon orders of the Supreme Court due to security consideration.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier called on the military and police not to arrest Misuari so as not to affect his efforts to forge peace with the rebel group headed by Misuari.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=924242

Recovery of 16 remaining ASG hostages a priority task of AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): Recovery of 16 remaining ASG hostages a priority task of AFP

With the release of six Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) captives over the weekend, the military is now focusing on the safe and immediate recovery of 16 remaining hostages still in the clutches of the terrorists.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla on Monday said this can be broken down into 12 foreign hostages and four Filipinos currently being held by the ASG.

"As of the last validation and based on what we received from Western Mindanao Command this morning, lets go to the numbers first, there remains 12 foreign hostages in the hands of the ASG, the locals, there are four locals also in their hands. Based on our monitoring and our feedback from the field we believe that most of these hostages are still in good condition and that's what we are aiming to accomplish, to rescue them or recover them safely," he added.

Last Saturday, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad was released by the bandits in Sulu. This was followed by the freeing of three Indonesian fishermen Lorence Koten, Teo Doros Kofong and Emmanuel Arakian nighttime of Sept. 17 and of telecom workers Daniela Taruc and Levy Gonzales last Sept. 18. All hostages were released in the Sulu area.

Sekkingstand was freed in Sulu around 4 p.m. Saturday. The former was abducted together with John Ridsel, Robert Hall and Marites Flor on Sept. 21, 2015 at the Ocean View Resort in Samal Island.

Both Hall and Ridsell were beheaded by the bandits while Flor was freed by the ASG last June 22.

While the three Indonesian fishermen were abducted off Lahad Datu, Sabah last July 9 while telecom workers Taruc and Gonzales were kidnapped in Patikul, Sulu last Aug. 9.

Padilla said operations will continue until the ASG's capacity to launch lawless and terror activities are neutralized or totally eliminated.

"The mission is very specific, to degrade the capability of this group to launch or conduct any of the activities that they have been doing, so in order to accomplish that we must pursue this operation to its rightful end," he said.

"Our primordial concern right now are the safety of the hostages but then after that is the complete security of the island (Sulu) and its long term development as a potential investment site in the future," Padilla pointed out.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=924241

7 Maute Group members killed in military bombardment —Army commander

From GMA News (Sep 18): 7 Maute Group members killed in military bombardment —Army commander

At least seven suspected members of a local terror group were killed in the military's bombardment in Butig, Lanao del Sur on Saturday.

Col. Roseller Murillo, commander of the Philippine Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade, said civilian informants told the military that seven bodies were recovered by the remaining members of local terrorists, Maute Group.

"Based on confirmations from civilians that resides in the villages in Butig, initialy disclosed that seven dead bodies were found and recovered by comrades of Maute group in grassy area near Camp Darul Iman," Murillo said.

He said Camp Darul Iman is an abandoned camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front occupied by the Maute Group after the military launched an attack against them last May.

Murillo said they launched airstrikes and fired 105mm Howitzers at the Maute Group's lair on Saturday morning.

He also said that according to the residents, some members of the Maute Group were still scouring the area for more possible bodies of their fallen comrades.

There are reports that the Maute Group is linked with terror group, ISIS, and the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Meanwhile, Murillo said members of the 49th Infantry Battalion have been sent to Butig town to augment the military's force pursuing members of the Maute Group.

The 49th Infantry Battalion is based in Bicol. 

 http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/581828/news/regions/7-maute-group-members-killed-in-military-bombardment-army-commander

Shelling kills seven in Butig, Lanao del Sur

From the Sun Star-Cagayan de Oro (Sep 19): Shelling kills seven in Butig, Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY -- Citing civilian accounts, a top official of the Philippine Army said airstrikes and shelling Saturday, September 17, directed at a camp in Butig, Lanao del Sur occupied by the Maute terror group killed at least seven alleged terrorists.

 

Army Colonel Roseller Murillo, commander of the Army’s 103rd Brigade based in Kampo Ranao in Marawi City, said the bombardment is part of ongoing operations against the Maute group.

 

Murillo said civilian accounts report the recovery of seven bodies by members of the Maute group in a grassy area near Camp Darul Iman, formerly an abandoned Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) encampment. 

 

Murillo said the former MILF camp was also the subject of military operations from May to June 3 this year.

 

He said the newly arrived 49th Infantry Battalion from 9th Infantry Division based in the Bicol Region was also deployed in Butig early this week to go after members of the Maute group.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Bautista, commanding officer of 49th IB, said troops have been conducting ground patrol in some parts of Butig.

 

The military had launched operations against the terror group in the wake of an attack by the Maute group against the Lanao del Sur Provincial Jail in the city last August 27.

 

About 50 heavily armed members of the group had raided the provincial jail in Barangay Mapandi, Marawi City to free eight of their comrades.

 

The raid also freed 15 other inmates.

 

None of the escaped inmates have so far been re-captured.

 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2016/09/19/shelling-kills-seven-butig-lanao-del-sur-498492

2 more Abu Sayyaf captives walk free

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sep 19): 2 more Abu Sayyaf captives walk free

Two Filipino captives of the Abu Sayyaf walked free on Sunday night amid massive military operations against the bandit group in Sulu.

Lieutenant General Mayoralgo dela Cruz, chief of Western Mindanao Command, told the Inquirer Sunday night that more hostages were expected to be freed because of the relentless operation in areas with reported presence of Abu Sayyaf.

“We are not stopping until they are destroyed. We have a strong mandate to destroy these bandits, and more hostages are released,” Dela Cruz said.

Major Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of Western Mindanao Command, said sustained military operations led to the freeing of Daniela Taruc and Levy Gonzales in Panglima Estino town in Sulu at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

The two walked free after a Norwegian and three Indonesians were released.

The victims, subcontractors of a Telecom company who were kidnapped in Patikul town on August 6, were recovered by a resident, Tan said.

Taruc and Gonzales were brought to a military hospital in Bus-bus village in Jolo.

On Saturday, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad was freed after an alleged ransom of P30 million delivered to the Abu Sayyaf.

Before Saturday midnight, three Indonesian fishermen — Lorence Koten, Teo Doros Kofong and Emmanuel Arakian — were freed after reportedly paying P10 million in ransom.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/816552/2-more-abu-sayyaf-captives-walk-free

Three Indonesian hostages freed by Abu Sayyaf, fourth to follow

From the Jakarta Post (Sep 19): Three Indonesian hostages freed by Abu Sayyaf, fourth to follow



Three Indonesian sailors released on Sunday and handed over to Philippine authorities in Zamboanga will fly to Manila to undergo a medical check-up before being flown home to Indonesia on Tuesday.(JP/Haeril Halim)

"From day to day in their captivity, it felt like we were just waiting for our time to be beheaded," Theodorus Kopong Koten recalls his captivity by the Abu Sayyaf group.

For 75 days he had been a hostage of the notorious militants in the Sulu islands region of the southern Philippines. He is one of three Indonesian sailors released by the Abu Sayyaf group on Sunday in Zamboanga.

"It was very scary. There was no life there. I cannot say thank you enough for the release, and it is only God who could respond to the efforts by Indonesian and Philippine authorities to make the release possible," Theodorus said on Sunday.

The other two sailors are Lorens Koten and Emmanuel. The three crewmen were on board a Malaysian-flagged fishing boat when kidnapped by the militants on July 9 in Lahat Datu waters in Malaysia.

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, who came to Zamboanga to witness the handover of the hostages from the Philippine military to Indonesian officials, said a fourth Indonesian sailor was expected to be released on Monday.

He refused to give details on the fourth Indonesian, but said all four released hostages would return to Indonesia on Tuesday.

Indonesia thanked the Philippine military for achieving the release, with help from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Ryamizard denied speculation that the government had paid a ransom for their release. However, he said he did not know whether the hostages’ families or employers paid a ransom. Abu Sayyaf is notorious for taking hostages and threatening to behead them for ransom.

"We, Indonesia and the Philippines, do not want to be extorted. We did not and never will pay a single penny," Ryamizard said told a press briefing in Zamboanga on Sunday.

Once the fourth hostage is finally released, the group will still be holding another five Indonesians. At least 18 Indonesians have been kidnapped in separate incidents since May, including two who reportedly escaped on their own in August.

The Indonesian government had been pushing for negotiations in the hostage crisis, Ryamirzard said, noting that securing the release of the three sailors had been a tough process.

Yet he expressed optimism that the remaining five hostages would soon be freed, following a Philippine military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf gunmen. Philippine forces have deployed 22,000 personnel to corner the militants in the Sulu islands following orders from President Rodrigo Duterte.

The commander of the Western Mindanao Command, Mayoralgo de la Cruz, said the Philippine government had cooperated with the MNLF, as the latter was familiar with the Sulu Island area and its members had a broad network in the region.

"We will be much happier once we receive all the remaining Indonesian hostages from Abu Sayyaf. President Duterte has ordered us to go after the group," Cruz said.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/09/19/three-indonesian-hostages-freed-by-abu-sayyaf-fourth-to-follow.html

Abu Sayyaf frees 2 telco technicians

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Sep 19): Abu Sayyaf frees 2 telco technicians

Two more hostages were released by the Abu SAyyaf group, this time Filipinos, after the release of Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad on Saturday, Sept. 17.

The released hostages were identified as Levy Gonzales, 30 and Daniela Taruc, 26, both employees of Power City Corporation, a sub-contractor of a telecommunication firm.

Major Felimon Tan Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesperson, said the two were released around 10:30 p.m. Sunday in barangay Tiptipon, Panglima Estino, Sulu.

According to Tan, the massive military operations forced the Abu Sayyaf to free the two captives, several hours after the bandit group released Sekkingstad.

He will not comment whether ransom was paid for the Filipino hostages who were abducted on August 6 in Timpook, Patikul, Sulu.

The victims were on the way to the cellsite of a telecom firm in Bagsak, Talipao, when the Abu Sayyaf bandits flagged them down in Timpook.

Tan said the victims were taken to the Joint Task Force Sulu headquarters for medical check-up before they were turned over to proper authorities.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2016/09/19/abu-sayyaf-frees-2-telco-technicians-498508

EDITORIAL - Lucrative business

Editorial posted to the Philippine Star (Sep 18): EDITORIAL - Lucrative business



In an unguarded moment recently, President Duterte himself blurted out on national television that “50 million” had already been paid. This was amid rumors at the time that the Abu Sayyaf had beheaded another captive, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, who was kidnapped from a resort he was managing on Samal Island in Davao on Sept. 21 last year.

It was unclear if the President meant 50 million in pesos or US dollars. The Abu Sayyaf had initially demanded $6.3 million for each of its three foreign hostages, according to previous reports. Yesterday, amid reports in Mindanao that the actual ransom amount was P100 million, Malacañang officials said they did not know who might have paid any ransom – whether the victim’s family or a foreign government.

The Philippine government supposedly has a no-ransom policy, and the Armed Forces yesterday attributed the Norwegian’s release to relentless military pursuit operations.

In reality, for many years now, kidnapping for ransom has become the most lucrative industry in Sulu and Basilan. Many of the payments are in foreign currency, which makes you wonder how the money is handed over, stashed and spent. In the kidnapping of 21 mostly European hostages from the Malaysian island resort of Sipadan in April 2000, the Abu Sayyaf allegedly received at least $20 million in “development aid” from Libya and another $3 million from Malaysia in exchange for the hostages. No ransom payment has ever been recovered.

You can’t hide that kind of money under a mattress or in a cave. It has to be deposited somewhere. Philippine banks are required to report to monetary authorities any large deposits. Dollars have to be converted to Philippine pesos to be spent here. How is ransom money laundered, and who are involved? The laundering is clearly thriving as much as the kidnapping itself.

At least Sekkingstad is alive, unlike the two other foreigners snatched with him in Samal, Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, who were beheaded. But ransom is the best incentive for staging more kidnappings. Paying ransom is fine as long as it leads to the capture of the kidnappers and eventual recovery of at least some of the money. In the case of the Abu Sayyaf, ransom payments have simply bred impunity.

http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2016/09/19/1625195/editorial-lucrative-business

P100 M paid for Norwegian?

From the Philippine Star (Sep 18): P100 M paid for Norwegian?



Released Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad, left, briefly delivers his statement after meeting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, right, in Davao city in southern Philippines Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Sekkingstad, who was kidnapped last year by ransom-seeking Abu Sayyaf extremists along with two Canadians and a Filipino, was released Saturday and was turned over Sunday to MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) Chairman Nur Misuari, who in turn turned him over to Presidential adviser Jesus Dureza (left). Three other Indonesian captives were released with Sekkingstad. In the center is Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Erik Forner. AP Photo/Manman Dejeto

Despite Malacañang’s no-ransom stance, more than P100 million was apparently paid for the freedom of Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad from the bandit group Abu Sayyaf over the weekend.

Sources told The STAR yesterday that Sekkingstad’s family and friends from Norway raised the ransom money. Norway Ambassador Erik Forner reportedly flew to Davao in anticipation of Sekkingstad’s release.

“I would like to reiterate that the government maintains the no-ransom policy,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told government radio station dzRB yesterday. “Now, if a third party or the family gives ransom, we do not know.”

The Abu Sayyaf released Sekkingstad Saturday, about a year after the bandit group kidnapped him along with three others – Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, who were both beheaded months ago reportedly for failure to pay a P300-million ransom demand, and Filipina Marites Flor, who was released in June.

The four were snatched by heavily armed men at a private yacht club in the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao on Sept. 21, 2015 and held captive in Sulu.

The Abu Sayyaf released and handed over Sekkingstad to the Moro National Liberation Front, through MNLF Commander Tahil Sali, in the vicinity of Barangay Buanza, in the town of Indanan at around 8:30 p.m. last Friday, reports said.

 

He then stayed overnight at the place of MNLF chairman Nur Misuari in Barangay Kagay, according to Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process.

“Chairman Misuari volunteered to host his stay due to heavy rains and nightfall,” Dureza said. “Men of Misuari, former governor Sakur Tan, and other volunteers helped in the release.”

The MNLF has signed a peace deal with the government.

President Duterte finally met Sekkingstad yesterday afternoon at the Matina Enclaves Residences in Davao City.

Devastating

Meanwhile, Sekkingstad yesterday described his one-year jungle captivity under the bandits as “devastating,” carrying a backpack with a bullet hole as a reminder of his ordeal.

Aside from the horror of constantly being warned he would be the next to be beheaded by the brutal extremists, Sekkingstad said he survived more than a dozen clashes between government forces and his captors in the lush jungles of Sulu province.

In one of those clashes, he recalled, he felt a thud in his back and thought he was hit by gunfire, but found out later that it was his green, army-style backpack that was pierced.

Sekkingstad said he and his fellow captives were forced to carry the militants’ belongings and were kept in the dark on what was happening around them. At one point, he said, their heavily armed captors numbered more than 300.

“We were treated like slaves,” he said.

After the militants decapitated Ridsdel in April, Sekkingstad was threatened by the militants, who repeatedly told him, “You’re next.”

When the negotiations for his release began in recent months, Sekkingstad said the rebels began treating him better.

It was not immediately clear whether Sekkingstad had been ransomed off. Duterte suggested at a news conference last month that P50 million had been paid to the militants, but that they continued to hold on to him.

The military said Saturday that relentless assaults forced the extremists to release the hostage.

In Norway, Prime Minister Erna Solberg confirmed that Sekkingstad had been “brought to safety” after his release.

Solberg said the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, police and diplomats “have done a great deal of work” to have Sekkingstad released, and thanked Duterte and Dureza.

In a statement posted on the Norwegian government website, Solberg said Norway supports the Philippine government “in their fight against terrorism and for peaceful outcome in the south” of the country.

Solberg told national news agency NTB that “Norwegian officials had not participated in any payment of ransom or made any concessions in the matter.”

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/09/19/1625291/p100-m-paid-norwegian

NPA claim on arrest of ex-rebel disputed

From the Manila Times (Sep 18): NPA claim on arrest of ex-rebel disputed

THE Philippine Army on Sunday denied allegations that it violated a ceasefire with communist rebels who had accused the military of arresting a former guerrilla in Kalinga province.

“He was not arrested. The alleged elderly ex-guerilla opted to return to the folds of the law,” said Col. Benjamin Hao, Army spokesman, referring to 73-year-old Marcos Aggalao.

Hao was reacting to a report of an online news portal quoting Ka Tipon Gil-ayab, spokesman for the Lejo Cawilan Command of the New People’s Army (NPA), who said the military illegally arrested Aggalao alias Ka Munroe.

Gil-ayab claimed that Aggalao retired in 2012 because of old age.

Reports said Aggalao was arrested in Sitio Dalyagan, Barangay Gawaan in Balbalan town on September 11.

But Hao disputed this, saying there was no arrest of NPA members and supporters in Kalinga.

“Since the start of the ceasefire of the government with the NPA, many of their supporters and old members in Northern Luzon, including Marcos Aggalao from Kalinga, voluntarily surrendered to the Philippine Army,” he said.

According to him, after the mass surrender of 69 NPA supporters in Northern Luzon last month, another four reportedly surrendered to the military this month.

All of the surrenderers, Hao said, were sent to and processed by the local Department of Social Welfare and Development in the province.

“The Philippine Army strictly observes the ceasefire with the NPA. The Philippine Army believes that an effective ceasefire is a significant path in attaining peace in our country,” he added.

http://www.manilatimes.net/npa-claim-on-arrest-of-ex-rebel-disputed/286532/

TALKED TO NUR DURING CABINET MEETING Duterte reveals Nur Misuari given full authority to negotiate with Abu Sayyaf

From GMA News (Sep 18): TALKED TO NUR DURING CABINET MEETING Duterte reveals Nur Misuari given full authority to negotiate with Abu Sayyaf

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday revealed that he gave Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari and Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza the full authority to negotiate with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

"It was a long, long negotiation as far as I'm concerned. I've talked with Nur Misuari, even in the Cabinet meetings I had him called and he assured us that we would be able to recover, alive and well, Kjartan," Duterte said in a press briefing at the Matina Enclave in Davao City.

"I was just directing the traffic... to go about the job and simply investing upon them, the full authority to negotiate and see to it that nothing of this sort will happen again,' he added.

Duterte had said that he would not want to detain Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges for the 20-day Zamboanga City siege in 2013.

Before his speech, Duterte shook the hand of released Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad.

Duterte also thanked former Sulu governor Abdusakur Tan for helping in efforts to secure the Norwegian hostage.

"First of all I would like to thank the efforts, the efforts beyond human patience of Secretary Dureza and of course, Nur Misuari, who all along assured us sthat he would need time but he would succeed. So he said, many months ago, and I would like to thank him also, and of roucse, Sakurtan, the former governor of Sulu," he said.

Sekkingstad was abducted by gunmen, along with Canadian nationals John Ridsel and Robert hall and Filipina Marites Flor, on Samal Island in September last year.

The Norwegian was released Saturday afternoon by the ASG to the Moro National Liberation Front in Patikul, Sulu.

The two Canadians, meanwhile, were beheaded by the bandits while Flor was released last June.

In his speech, Duterte said that he could not declare that Mindanao is already safe.
"Is it safe in Mindanao? I cannot tell you now, but we are trying our very best to put order in this country," he said.

"We are racked with wracked with so many problems: kidnapping in the South, terrorism, drugs and I would say I would need time to put everything in order," he added.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col.  Restituto Padilla earlier said in a radio dzBB interview that the ASG is still holding at least 20 hostages.

The ASG had also released three Indonesian sailors on Saturday night.

Dureza said during the presentation of Sekkingstad that the three Indonesian hostages have been turned over to a representative of the Indonesian government.

"They are already on their way to Jakarta," Dureza said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/581867/news/nation/duterte-reveals-nur-misuari-given-full-authority-to-negotiate-with-abu-sayyaf

Freed Norwegian Hostage Tells of Ordeal at the Hands of Abu Sayyaf

From the Wall Street Journal (Sep 18): Freed Norwegian Hostage Tells of Ordeal at the Hands of Abu Sayyaf

A Norwegian man freed after almost a year held by the Abu Sayyaf terror group said he and his fellow captives, two of whom were beheaded, were treated like slaves and that he was regularly threatened with execution.

Kjartan Sekkingstad was one of four people seized by the extremists at a resort he ran on Samal Island in the southern Philippines. Two of his fellow captives, Canadians John Ridsel and Robert Hall, were decapitated this year. A Philippine woman, Marites Flor, was freed in June.

“I am very happy to be alive and free,” Mr. Sekkingstad told reporters following a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte and Norwegian Embassy officials in Davao City, the president’s hometown. “It’s a wonderful feeling.”

When he arrived in Davao City, the Norwegian was bearded, wearing a camouflage jacket and carrying a backpack he said had stopped a bullet and saved his life during a clash between troops and militants. He was clean-shaven and wearing fresh clothes when he met the president.

Mr. Sekkingstad told reporters upon arriving in Davao City that the Abu Sayyaf militants had forced him and the other captives to act as porters, the Associated Press reported. He said that after the beheadings began, he was told constantly that he would be executed, AP reported, and that he survived several clashes between the militants and Philippine troops.”

The two Canadians were killed after Ottawa refused to pay millions of dollars in ransom to the militants, who have sworn allegiance to Islamic State, have earlier links to al Qaeda and have carried out bombings, assassinations and kidnappings for ransom that have often ended in murder.

Mr. Duterte said recently that 50 million pesos ($1.1 million) had been paid to Abu Sayyaf as ransom for Mr. Sekkingstad. Subsequently, the president said the group wanted even more money. He didn’t elaborate on the source of the payments or how they were made.

Mr. Sekkingstad was released Saturday in Jolo, the capital of Sulu, a predominantly Muslim and impoverished island, but had to stay there overnight because of bad weather. It was unclear if he would return to Norway.

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said that three Indonesian fishermen kidnapped recently by Abu Sayyaf were released Sunday. He said he was “unaware if any ransom has been paid.” The Indonesians were flown to the military’s regional command center in western Mindanao island and handed over to Indonesian authorities.

Abu Sayyaf is believed to still hold 11 foreigners and six Filipinos captive, the military said.The group is believed to have about 400 members.

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg welcomed the release of Mr. Sekkingstad and thanked Mr. Duterte and presidential peace adviser Jose Dureza, who negotiated the release, for working to free him.

“This has been a challenging case, and has put an indescribable strain on Mr. Sekkingstad himself and his family and friends,” Ms. Solberg said Sunday. “The violence committed against innocent people by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist organization can only be met by our condemnation and disgust.”

Abu Sayyaf has come under recent pressure from the Philippine armed forces as Mr. Duterte ordered a new offensive against them. The group responded with a deadly bomb attack Sept. 2 in Davao City that killed 15 people and injured dozens more.

Mr. Duterte, who came to power June 30 on a pledge to restore law and order in the Philippines, has waged a violent antidrug campaign that has left thousands dead.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/freed-norwegian-hostage-in-philippine-government-hands-1474197099