Abu Sayyaf releases ‘final’ video of Samal hostages

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The military remains focused on its operations to rescue the remaining hostages of the Abu Sayyaf even as the bandits released a new video showing the supposed ”final message” of those taken from a resort on Samal Island, an official said yesterday.

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said they have not seen the video yet, but assured the public that rescue operations are underway.

“With deadlines or not, we are working to get the kidnap victims,” Tan said.

A video posted on Sunday showed Canadian Robert Hall appealing to incoming president Rodrigo Duterte and the Philippine government to coordinate with a certain woman at the Canadian embassy for their release.

Hall said authorities should heed their appeal, “the sooner the better.”

Hall and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad were wearing orange shirts while Filipina Marites Flor was wearing a black dress. They were being guarded by gunmen with an Islamic State flag as backdrop.

There was no mention of a ransom demand in the video, but the group earlier demanded P300 million for each of the foreign hostages.

Canadian John Ridsdel was beheaded on April 25 after the deadline set for the payment of ransom lapsed.

Tan said military operations are ongoing in Sulu, but did not elaborate.

“Our primary concern is the rescue and safety of the kidnap victims,” Tan said.

Abu bandit falls

Meanwhile, joint police and military operatives captured an Abu Sayyaf bandit following an encounter in Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay last week.

Ibno Sanday was a member of a group led by Hapidz Abdurahman, the target of the joint police and military operation in Barangay Sinusayan on Thursday. Abdurahman managed to escape. 

Tan said the group was behind last week’s ambush that left Malangas police officer-in-charge Inspector Dexter Gumahob Adrias wounded. 

He said Sanday yielded a shotgun, a .45-caliber pistol, an MK2 grenade, ammunition, 12 sachets of suspected shabu, two mobile phones and P1,000 in cash.