Intel report: Abu Sayyaf faction holding captive 3 foreigners, Pinay

MANILA, Philippines - A faction of the Abu Sayyaf is currently holding hostage three foreign nationals and a Filipina the bandits kidnapped from a high-end resort in Samal Island, Davao del Norte more than two weeks ago, sources in the intelligence community revealed yesterday.

A security official revealed the kidnappers are led by Hatib Sawadjaan, a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf based in Sulu.

“All indicators now point to the group of Sawadjaan as the brains behind the Samal abduction,” the official said.

He added some groups are now trying to ride on the Samal kidnapping to further their interests.

Sawadjaan’s group is also believed to be holding other local and foreign hostages aside from their four new victims from Samal.

“This latest development, however, is still being subjected to further validation with the ground security forces now trying to obtain solid proof that the victims are being held by the group of Sawadjaan,” another security official said.

Sawadjaan and his group have been the subject of a continuing operation of the Joint Task Group Sulu under the command of Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado.

Earlier, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) demanded the reinstatement of some dismissed miners in Davao as a condition for their participation in negotiating the release of the hostages in Sulu.

The MNLF claimed the hostages are being held by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu. The group wanted government authorization to negotiate for the safe release of the hostages.

An official, however, dismissed the MNLF claim, saying the statement only muddles instead of helps in solving the case.

“Granting that the kidnappers’ demand is true, then the MNLF should first show proof they can secure the safe release of the four hostages,” the official said.

As for the arrest of two suspects in Davao over alleged links to the Samal abduction, the official stressed this needs further validation.

“It’s positive that arrests were made in the Davao area but as to whether the suspects were involved in the Samal kidnapping, this has yet to be further investigated,” another security official said.

Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte announced the arrest of two people involved in the Samal kidnapping.

The two were arrested in a follow-up operation after they were reportedly identified in CCTV footage during the night of the abduction.

But three weeks into the kidnapping, there has been no ransom demand or proof of life to show the hostages are still alive. 

The still unidentified gunmen kidnapped two Canadian tourists, a Norwegian resort manager and a Filipino woman at a resort on Samal Island on Sept. 21.

Canadian tourists John Ridsdel, 68, and Robert Hall, 50, were among those abducted.

The other foreigner was resort manager Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, 56, and the Filipina was Hall’s 40-year-old girlfriend, Maritess Flor. – With Edith Regalado