Abu Sayyaf open to negotiate with DFA over German captives' release

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - With 48 hours left before the ultimatum and a pit prepared for the execution, hopes sprung for one of the two German hostages after their Abu Sayyaf captors said Wednesday that it is open for Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to “mediate” for the demands in exchange for the release of the victims.

Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Rami, in a radio interview over the local radio DXRZ of the Radio Mindanao Network Wednesday morning said they are open for the DFA to mediate for their demands in exchange for the freedom of the victims.

He said they wanted the DFA to come in and mediate citing they have learned that the agency has not been stained with corruption issue. 

“Ang gusto lang namin, kasi nakita ko sa Internet, ang walang tatak ng pagnanakaw ay ang DFA, ang administrator ng DFA. Kaya 'yan talaga ang gusto namin sila makiusap sa amin. Ang pag-uusapan ay tungkol sa P250 million pesos at demand na withdrawal of support,” Rami said.

It was not clear to the Abu Sayyaf spokesman if they will lift the execution ultimatum if the DFA would open the mediation. The group said that it has separated the two hostages from each other.

Rami even warned said they will not also give consideration to any of the hostages if their demands will not be delivered.

He said they will not entertain any politician to meddle into the negotiation citing the corrupt practices in the country.

Rami said some politicians were sending their emissaries to open for the negotiation for the release of the German couple.

“We have not talked to any of this politicians yet but they were sending their emissaries and we know their dealings. We know these politicians are trying to discount and some were bargaining. We will see if they can bargain this one,” Abu Rami said. 

“Ayaw ko talaga yong politician ang mag negotiate dito baka may mangayari sa dalawang ito (hostages) na pinag-uusapan na ng buong sambayan kami pa ang mailagay sa alanganin,” he warned.

In the radio interview, captive German Doctor Stefan Viktor Okonek said his Abu Sayyaf guards brought him to his supposed grave to fit him.

“I’m here in a hole, it’s a big hole 3 meters by 5 meters, they told me this is my grave. They push me inside the hole,” Okonek said as he was allowed to talk by Rami. 

Okonek, 74, and his wife Henrike Dielen, 55, have been in captivity since they were seized by the Abu Sayyaf group from the yacht last April while sailing near Rio de Tubataha off Palawan. 

According to Okonek, the Abu Sayyaf dug the hole before and would use it for his supposed grave. 

“They told me on Friday they will kill me,” Okonek said.

He said he has been guarded by 10 gunmen 24 hours a day, has not enough food to eat, lost 20 pounds and very weak.

The German doctor said he was sad about the situation but was thankful for the opportunity to talk as he appealed the Philippine and German governments to help for the release. 

“I have not seen anyone from the government to get into the situation that tries to get us out of here,” Okonek said.

He said his captors maintained that demands of P250 million pesos in ransom an for the Berlin to drop its support for the United States campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). 

Okonek said the Abu Sayyaf also demanded that the Philippine government withdraw its troops in Sulu.

It will be recalled that the military deployed an additional brigade of soldiers in Sulu to help track and rescue the hostages.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Genereal Gregorio Pio Catapang halted Sunday any rescue operations to allow the local crisis management council for the peace solution.

Okonek said he has been separated from his wife since Monday and has no idea on the situation of Dielen. Roel Pareño