Palace welcomes MNLF faction’s offer to help find Samal kidnap victims

Malacañang on Tuesday said it welcomes support from any group willing to aid the government in finding three foreign nationals and a Filipina abducted by armed men on Samal Island, Davao del Norte.

Asked if the government will accept the help offered by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said, “Ang tulong ng mga organisasyon o indibidwal sa paglutas ng krimen ay tinatanggap ng pamahalaan.”

(The government accepts the help of organizations or individuals to solve a crime.)

“Mainam na matunton ang kinaroroonan ng mag nagsagawa nito,” he added.

(It’s better that we find where the perpetrators are.)

The Philippine military has been searching for the four victims and their abductors since the kidnapping last week.

The MNLF faction Islamic Command Council (ICC) told INQUIRER that they have information that the unidentified armed group, which they alleged were Abu Sayyaf members, is now in Sulu.

The ICC said they already sent a message to MNLF founder Nur Misuari, who heads another faction, to “help facilitate the safe release of the hostages.”

ICC chair Hashim Mudjahab claimed that Misuari, who went into hiding after the Zamboanga City crisis in 2013, is in the area.