Authorities mum on ransom reports over release of journalist

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities kept mum over reports that ransom was paid to the Abu Sayyaf to free Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani after more than a year in captivity.

Atyani is now in the custody of the Sulu provincial police for debriefing after policemen found him at a farm in Barangay Igasan in Patikul, Sulu late Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor, spokesman for Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima, said the police were not aware of any ransom paid while maintaining the no- ransom policy of the government.

“We don’t know about it (ransom), the government has a no ransom policy,” he said.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin also said he was not aware of any ransom paid.

“That I will have to find out. As I’ve said, I have not read the report (about his release) yet,” he said.

Gazmin stressed the government would continue to adhere to a no-ransom policy.

He also welcomed the release of Atyani, saying the number of hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf has been reduced.

“This is good news for us. At least the number of people who are still with them (terrorists) has been reduced,” he said.

Mayor added the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) is now investigating Atyani’s case in coordination with medical personnel who attended to him shortly after he was found.

“The AKG hopes to talk to him (Atyani) when the medical personnel gave them the go signal. Atyani is reportedly complaining of high blood pressure,” he added.

Joint Task Force Sulu commander Col. Jose Jhoriel Cenabre said Atyani had to undergo debriefing to gather additional information against the Abu Sayyaf that took him captive for 18 months in the jungles of Sulu.

“There was initial information that Atyani has told interrogating police about the Abu Sayyaf captors. However, the details of the information are classified as operational,” Cenabre said.

Laisa Alamia, regional executive secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), added Atyani was examined by doctors at the Sulu provincial hospital after policemen found him.

Atyani, a reporter of Al Arabiya, reportedly lost about half of his body weight during his 18 months in captivity.

Sporting long hair and a beard, Atyani was confined at the provincial hospital because he was weak and had lost weight.

Doctors of the Integrated Provincial Health Office of Sulu, who examined Atyani, said the Jordanian journalist showed signs of malnutrition.

Alamia said the doctors said Atyani was pale and looked dehydrated.

“He (Atyani) was given necessary medical intervention immediately,” Alamia said.

“Atyani is okay but he severely lost weight. He was suffering from trauma and could not sleep at night,” Cenabre added.

Atyani and his crew, Ramelito Vela and Rolando Letrero, were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf gunmen in June 2012. They were working on a documentary project on Abu Sayyaf extremists in Sulu at the time.

Atyani and his two Filipino crewmen were trying to link up with Abu Sayyaf militants for an interview somewhere in Sulu.

His two companions were freed last February, but Atyani, who gained prominence for interviewing Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan a few months before the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the US, remained captive until he was found in Barangay Igasan on Wednesday.

ARMM officials said the Abu Sayyaf has still been holding more than ten captives in Sulu.

Among the captives are Elwold Horn from the Netherlands and Lorenzo Vinceguerre of Switzerland, filmmakers Linda and Nadova Bansil and Japanese Toshio Ito.

Gazmin ordered military forces to work for the release of 17 people who are reportedly being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf.

“Our aim is to be able to rescue the kidnap victims without jeopardizing their safety,” Gazmin said.

The Abu Sayyaf gained notoriety for kidnapping foreigners in the southern Philippines. The group is linked to al-Qaeda of Bin Laden.

– With Roel Pareño, Alexis Romero, John Unson