Duterte may send frigate to secure release of hostages

President Rodrigo Duterte is considering the deployment of a Philippine Navy frigate to Libya to help secure the release of three Filipino engineers who were kidnapped by gunmen there.

Speaking on Friday night in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, the President made reference to the abduction of the three Filipinos and a South Korean national at a water project site in Western Libya.

“[South] Korea has sent a ship there. You know I’m not joking, I will also send a frigate if they begin to hurt the three Filipinos there. I will really send one there,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

‘I’ll send two’

“Korea sent one … So I might send one, too. What should we send … A frigate. I’ll send two,” the President added.

The Navy has three 50-year-old frigates, all Hamilton-class former cutters acquired from the US Coast Guard. Unlike the sophisticated Korean frigate, “Munmu the Great,” not one of the Philippine warships boasts a missile system.

Mr. Duterte said he would discuss his proposal with the military and police during a joint command conference next week.

‘Blast those pirates’

Addressing the Filipinos’ kidnappers, Mr. Duterte said, “Don’t treat us like that, [or] I will cut your heads off.”

The President warned that he would order the Navy to seek out the kidnappers if they harmed the hostages.

“I’ll tell them to blast them,” he said. “Those pirates, blast them … if they don’t want to release the hostages.”

Armed men abducted the  three Filipino engineers and the South Korean project consultant during a July 6 attack on a water project site in the Libyan desert.  —JULIE M. AURELIO