Raps vs ASG in Jordanian journo's abduction readied

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - The Sulu  police said they are ready to file charges of kidnapping against the Abu Sayyaf group behind the abduction of Jordanian broadcast journalist Baker Atyani.

Chief Inspector Kris Conrad Gutierrez, spokesman of the Sulu provincial police, said Atyani who escaped Wednesday night has provided the  police Anti-kidnapping Group (AKG) information about the Abu Sayyaf group that held him captive for more than 18 months in the jungle of Sulu.

“We are just awaiting the result of the debriefing that they will forwarded to us and we are ready to file the necessary charges against those who kidnapped Atyani,” Gutierrez said.

Atyani was flown out of Sulu by the AKG personnel to Manila where he will be handed over to the Jordanian officials.

Atyani, who was recovered by the patrolling police forces, said  he escaped his captors who were preoccupied with something else.

Atyani told local newsmen in Sulu while undergoing brief medical confinement at the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) that it was his second attempt to escape after observing that his captors were usually busy preparing before night fall.

Atyani, 44, bureau chief of the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya news channel, who once interviewed now slain al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden,   was held captive since June 13, 2012 along with his two Filipino television crewmen when they met the Abu Sayyaf group for  an interview in the mountains of Patikul town.

Atyani’s two companions were freed in February following negotiation and pressure exerted by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels.

Gutierrez said there were operational information that was also provided by Atyani which they can not reveal yet as they will be utilizing it  against the Abu Sayyaf group.

The Abu Sayyaf militants were believed to be still holding separately seven other hostages, including two Europeans and two Filipino sister independent film makers, in the mountains of Sulu.