ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Four foreigners kidnapped in Mindanao are still being held by suspected Abu Sayyaf militants, a senior military official said yesterday.
The kidnap victims are still in Sulu, Lt. Gen. Rey Ardo, Western Mindanao Command chief, said, citing their latest monitoring.
Ardo did not say whether there was sighting of any of the victims.
The Abu Sayyaf is believed to be holding Elwold Horn of Holland, Lorenzo Vinceguerre of Switzerland, Australian Warren Richard Rodwell and Jordanian broadcast journalist Baker Atyani and two of his Filipino crew, Romelito Vela and Roland Letrico.
Horn and Vinceguerre, both birdwatchers, were kidnapped in Tawi-Tawi in February last year; Rodwell, who is married to a Filipino, was taken from his home in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay province on Dec. 5, 2011; while Atyani and his crew were snatched last June in Sulu.
Efforts to recover the victims have not prospered as the kidnappers stood firm on their ransom demand.
Ardo urged police to assign a team to go after kidnapping syndicates in the region.