Rescue ops for Germans stopped to pave the way for peaceful release

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Soldiers hunting down Abu Sayyaf bandits holding captive a German couple have been ordered to stop any rescue operations and make way for  the peaceful release of the hostages.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it was ready to rescue the captives, but would refrain from taking actions that may compromise negotiations for the release.

“We are prepared but we will have to wait for an order from the crisis management committee,” AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr., who issued the order yesterday, told journalists.

Catapang was in Sulu yesterday morning to visit soldiers at Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Barangay Bus-bus, Jolo.

Earlier, the AFP deployed additional forces to Western Mindanao, including a K-9 team, to track down the bandits holding captive Stefan Viktor Okonek, 74, and his wife Henrike Dielen, 42.

The two were snatched last April while on vacation off Palawan. They were later brought to Sulu and are believed to be with about 15 other captives.

Last month, the Germans called on the Philippine and German governments to hasten their release as their health was deteriorating.

The bandits want P250 million in ransom and have threatened to behead one of the hostages on Oct. 17 if their demands are not met.

The group also wants Germany to stop its support for the US government in its campaign against the Islamic State.

Catapang expressed hope the Abu Sayyaf bandits would not carry out their threat to execute one of the captives. 

“We feel they won’t do it because of the social pressure. The German government is negotiating and we have a crisis management committee. Hopefully, their threat won’t materialize,” he said.