Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo  on Friday maintained that missing Jordanian national Baker Atyani was not kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf, contrary to the claim of the Foreign Ministry of Jordan.
 
Atyani, the Al Arabiya news network Southeast Asia bureau chief, and his camera crew of two Filipinoswent missing last June 12.
 
"Palagay ko they [Foreign Ministry] were not fully informed of the facts and circumstances. [Atyani] was not kidnapped or abducted, he was there to conduct an interview," Robredo told GMA News Online in a phone interview Friday.
 
Robredo’s statement came after Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sabah Rafei was quoted by The Jordan Times as saying that their embassy in Tokyo and consul in Manila have confirmed that Atyani was kidnapped.
 
Atyani and his two camera crew–camera operator Ramelito Vela, 39, and audio operator Rolando Letrero, 22–went missing on June 12 when they supposedly met with the Abu Sayyaf for an interview in Patikul, Sulu.
 
Vela and Letrero are Filipinos.
 
"Kung hindi sila pumunta dun hindi sana sila hawak nito [Abu Sayyaf]," said Robredo.
 
Government has information from a reliable source that Atyani, Vela, and Letrero are safe and sound, according to the Local Government chief.
 
"Ang alam ko may contact [ang local authorities sa kanila. They're] safe.  [And] this is not the first time he has been there.  He did this before, alam niya ginagawa niya," he said.
 
Sulu police provincial director Senior Superintendent Antonio Freyra had said Atyani has been to the Philippines three or four times before.

'Situation remains the same'
 
At a press briefing on Friday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said they also have information that Atyani voluntarily went to the Abu Sayyaf and was still with them.
 
"There seems to be no indication to the contrary. There has been no ransom that has been reported or that has come to light. From where we stand the situation remains the same,” she said.
 
The Jordanian consulate has yet to issue any request for assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to secure the "release" of Atyani, she added.
 
“But we will check with them today. From what we understand, the DFA has been in communication with the Jordanian embassy,” the Palace official noted.
 
Reflecting on the situation, Robredo said he thinks that Atyani and his crew are just waiting for an opportunity to resurface, probably when the interest in their situation has died down.
 
The DILG secretary had earlier said he will recommend that Atyani be banned from the Philippines for "deceiving" local authorities and voluntarily seeking out the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

He may still push through with his recommendation if there is "basis," Robredo said Friday.
 
Earlier, Freyra of the Sulu police had said the three fooled local authorities into thinking they were just going to cover Independence Day celebration in Jolo.
 
It was very likely that they are funneling funds to the Abu Sayyaf from al Qaeda as logistical support is difficult to come by, the police director claimed.  —VS, GMA News