AFP verifying info on Samal Island kidnap victims' location

MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said it is still verifying information claiming that the Samal Island kidnap victims were taken to Sulu province.

"That report has been out for a week but our verification (conducted by AFP intelligence units) did not confirm that report," AFP spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla said.

Padilla said reports claiming that victims are also currently held captive in Davao must still be verified.

"The information that has been circling around on the location of the hostages to date remains unconfirmed and unvalidated until certain information that we are looking for exists, but at the moment, both the police and the AFP cannot make a categorical statement regarding the location of the kidnap victims," Padilla said.

The kidnap victims were Canadians John Ridsel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and a still unidentified Filipina, abducted at a resort on September 21 around 11:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, the two suspects in the abduction of the three foreigners and Filipina were arrested.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte identified one of the suspects as Pandajar Adona, alias Banon.