No rescue yet for German captives, says AFP chief

SULU, Philippines– There will be no rescue of the German kidnap victims in Sulu until the military is told to do so, Armed Forces chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said on Sunday.

“We want to stop the agony of the kidnap victims inasmuch as they are appealing to us that they want to be released,” he said before the troops at the 2nd Marine Brigade Headquarters at Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo here.

“We will not do the rescue until the Crisis Management Committee tells us to do so kasi may protocol yan and we want safe release through peaceful negotiations with abductors,” he said.

Abu Sayyaf bandits earlier threatened to behead one of their two German captives, believed to be held in Sulu, by Oct. 17 if the P250-million peso (USD $5.62 million) ransom is not paid. They also demanded Germany to withdraw their support to the US-led campaign against the Islamic State.

The military chief also expressed optimism that the Abu Sayyaf won’t do any harm to the hostages: “We think that social pressure is stopping them. They will not do that because they are still negotiating with the German government and the [CMC].”

Catapang also held a command conference here on Sunday against the backdrop of an increased military presence in the region to address kidnappings.

This was also Catapang’s first visit to Sulu since he assumed as military chief in July.

The CMC composed of local officials will hold a meeting on Monday in Sulu to address the kidnap issues but Catapang would not be able to attend as the military top brass will start its talks with US counterparts on the Mutual Defense Board Agreement at Camp Aguinaldo.

Instead, Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen John Bonafos will represent him at the CMC meeting.

The military recently beefed up its security efforts in Sulu by deploying a brigade of Army soldiers, estimated at 800 to 1,500. It also deployed K9 units aimed “to flush out” terrorists.

Last week, it deployed 100 of its elite soldiers, the Army Special Forces.

“We want to show that we are prepared to rescue but we have to wait kung anong orders sa taas dahil foreigners ito. We are in constant communication with the German ambassador and he wants us to assure of their safety,” he later told reporters.

The Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandits are scattered in the southern parts of Mindanao including Sulu and believed to be holding 12 civilians, including five foreigners. They are associated with the worst terror attacks, bombings and kidnappings.