Malacañang has called for calm following the Abu Sayyaf’s release of a new video of the three foreigners and a Filipina who were kidnapped in Davao del Norte in September last year.
In the video, the militants set a one-month deadline for millions of pesos in ransom, with an Abu Sayyaf member saying “something terrible” would happen to the two Canadians, one Norwegian and the Filipina if their demands would not be met by April 8.
But Communications Undersecretary Manolo Quezon assured the public that government forces were doing their part in handling the situation.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs is keeping in close contact with (the governments) representing these citizens … At the same time, let us not dignify by communicating on an official level with people who have broken the law and who are causing misery to innocent civilians whether Filipino or foreign,” Quezon said over state-run dzRB.
“Let us remain committed to our confidence in our Armed Forces and police to handle the situation. We put in our DFA to properly coordinate and inform foreign governments and the families of those involved,” he added.
Quezon said he could not give details on the operations being conducted by the AFP and the PNP as these were delicate matters.
He maintained that the government would not tolerate criminality by agreeing to pay the ransom that Abu Sayyaf was asking.
“Huwag nating kalimutan that, in general, for most countries, ganito talaga ang mga policies nila in all terrorists na hindi naman talaga pwedeng mag-deal o magbayad ng mga ransoms sa mga terorista dahil sa ganung paraan lalo pa nilang makukuha ang nais nila. Hindi lang magkalat ng katakutan kundi magkaroon ng financial rewards for their criminality,” Quezon said. RC