4 Samal hostages in Sulu, asserts MNLF

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—The head of the Moro National Liberation Front’s (MNLF) Islamic Command Council (ICC) said Monday the four hostages taken from a resort on Samal Island in Davao del Norte had been sighted in Sulu.

“We just received information a few minutes ago that the hostages from Samal are now in Sulu, but their exact location is unknown,” Habib Hashim Mudjahab, ICC chair, told the Inquirer by phone on Monday.

Mudjahab said the hostages were taken by the Abu Sayyaf. He said his source was very reliable because he was from the area. “But whatever information he provided needs re-validation,” he added.

Malacañang assured the public the authorities were on the trail of the abductors, amid calls from the Senate to ask the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for help in tracking them down.

“Operations are ongoing. I am not at liberty to divulge more details,” said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte in a text message.

A week after the abduction, the kidnappers had not contacted the government or the victims’ families to make their demands.

The ICC’s disclosure confirmed Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s claim earlier that the hostages had been brought to Sulu.

The military has asked Duterte for help in tracking the abductors.

“We are asking him to help us get to the source of his information so that it would be easier to validate and determine if it is true or not,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla.

Ask Misuari to help

The ICC is an MNLF faction based in this city. It has access to MNLF members in Sulu. The ICC is also allied with MNLF founding chair Nur Misuari.

“We have sent a message to brother Nur to do whatever he can to help facilitate the safe release of the hostages considering the proximity of where he is right now,” Mudjahab said.

“Misuari is in the area where the MNLF maintains a camp somewhere in the lower portion of Indanan,” he added.

Misuari has been in hiding since MNLF members clashed with government forces here two years ago.

Brig. Allan Arrojado, commander of Joint Task Group Sulu, said at least three brigades had been deployed to find the four hostages—Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipino Maritess Flor, who were seized from the Oceanview Marina Resort and Spa by 11 armed men.

“Our troops have checked the areas considered possible hiding places—Indanan, Patikul, Maimbung, Parang, Talipao and Omar towns. So far no proof of their presence there,” Arrojado said.

On Sunday afternoon, police discovered an abandoned speedboat equipped with a twin engine in Sitio (settlement) Laud-Laud Tando, Omar town.

“Up to now we cannot determine the owner of the boat,” Arrojado said.

In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo on Monday, Padilla said the abductors had yet to contact the families of the hostages or the government.

“There is still no information coming from the abductors, there is no group owning up to the incident, much less any details regarding the condition of the victims,” Padilla said.

The Eastern Mindanao Command and the Western Mindanao Command joined forces to confirm developments last weekend.

In particular, the two units are checking Duterte’s claim and reports that boats suspected to have been used in the abduction were recovered in Sulu.—With a report from Gil C. Cabacungan