Abus free 3 more Indonesians

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Abu Sayyaf gunmen freed three Indonesian sailors Saturday night in Sulu reportedly after an unspecified amount was paid to the group as ransom.

Authorities identified those released as Ferry Arifin, Dan Edi Suryono and Muhammad Mahbrur Dahri.

A local source privy to the negotiation, who declined to be named for security reasons, said money changed hands for the freedom of the three. But the military and police said the victims were likely released due to pressure from ongoing military operations.

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman for Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) here, said the victims were released to members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) at an undisclosed place in Sulu and subsequently turned over to Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan II and Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS).

In Manila, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said the three hostages were turned over by fugitive MNLF founder Nur Misuari to the local government of Sulu.

Dureza said Misuari called him to inform him about the release, which happened before noon.

“Chairman Misuari requested me to relay this new development to President Duterte, in whose behalf I expressed gratitude for the efforts,” Dureza said in a statement.

The three victims released were among the seven abducted crewmembers of Tugboat Charles 00 towing barge TK Robby 15, last June 22 in the area of Simisa Island, Sulu while en route to Indonesia.

Two of their companions were released early last month.

Major Tan said the neutralization of brothers Nixon and Brown Muktadil and the wounding of their four followers early this week from military operations might have forced the Abu Sayyaf to free their captives.

The Muktadil brothers were tagged as expert navigators and behind the cross-border abduction of 26 Indonesian and Malaysian nationals since April.

The newly freed Indonesian captives were brought to Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for proper medical examination and debriefing before being turned over to proper authorities.

The release of the three Indonesians left three other Indonesians, five Malaysians, a Dutch national and four Filipinos in Abu Sayyaf captivity in Sulu.

No negotiations

Despite the development, Dureza said the Duterte administration’s stance against holding talks with the Abu Sayyaf would not change.

“The military operations against them will continue. We are also trying to avail the cooperation of the local MNLF, and the local government of Sulu,” he told radio station dzBB.

“The stakeholders in the area want to do away with this plague because it has been affecting the whole province of Sulu. They are being viewed as a hostage area,” he added. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe