Defense chief: Misuari wants operations halted while nego for release of Abu Sayyaf captives ongoing

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday said Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari has asked the government to suspend military operations while he talks with the Abu Sayyaf for the release of terrorist group's remaining hostages.

“There’s a request actually from Misuari to suspend operations while he negotiates for the release of the remaining hostages,” Lorenzana said in a television interview.

Asked if he acceded to the request, the defense chief said he let the concerned military official decide.

“No, I only told the commander to use their judgment because they are on the ground. They can maybe stop operations in areas where negotiations are taking place  (but) not in all places,” he said.

At least six hostages have been released by Abu Sayyaf in the last two days. 

On Saturday, the ASG released to the Moro National Liberation Front four hostages, including Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and three Indonesian sailors and on Sunday night, two Filipinos were also released.

Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said there are still 16 hostages in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf.

“There remains 12 foreign hostages in the hands of the Abu Aayyaf. The locals, there are four locals also in their hands,” Padilla told reporters later in the day.

Lorenzana said there was a change in the stance of the Abu Sayyaf when President Rodrigo Duterte started talking with Misuari.

“I think they talked several times and in one of the conversations, the President told me that Misuari is also working on the release of the hostages, but it took time, I think a couple of weeks until yesterday,” he said.

He added during that time, the government had already brought more battalions to Jolo.

“We have sent five batallions, maybe 2,000 to 3,000 men more than what is existing now so maybe we have about 6,000 to 7,000 men there in total,” he said.

Lorenzana said that despite the talks then, they told the troops to continue their offensive against the terrorist group.

“So we told our troops to keep the pressure on the Abu Sayyaf. I think the pressure helped in the release because they were also afraid that the hostages might be killed. You know if the hostages were killed they will not have any leverage,” he said. 

Asked if the Abu Sayyaf asked anything before the release of the hostages, Lorenzana said it was Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza who asked him to suspend operations in some areas.

“Before the handover, I was in a communication with Sec. Dureza and he asked me to suspend operations in the route where Misuari and his people or Abu Sayyaf are coming down to meet with Misuari to hand over the hostages to Misuari. So he said can you tell your men not to fire against these people coming down,” he said.

“So I told the troops in Jolo to cooperate with Secretary Dureza. I ordered the commander of Task Force Jolo, Brig. Gen Arnel Dela Vega, to coordinate directly with Sec. Dureza and that’s what they did,” he added.

He said after the handover, their next task was to bring the hostages to Jolo but since it was already dark they let Sekkingstad and the Indonesians to sleep in the place of Misuari in Patikul.

He said it was Dureza who went to Misuari’s place to fetch the released hostages.

The defense secretary denied that Indonesian military and police are now allowed to chase down Abu Sayyaf.

“That is not correct, the only thing that we, the government, have allowed is hot pursuit in the high seas. If there is kidnapping happened in the waters of Indonesia, they can pursue the kidnappers and if they go to the high seas, they can also get into our territorial waters but they have to inform us that they are there and we can join them,” he said.

He said that there were joint navy patrols between the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia but for security to prevent kidnappings and not to patrol West Philippine Sea.

“No, not for territory.  The joint patrol is actually trilateral agreement between Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia,” he said.

Asked if there was ransom or board and lodging paid for the release of hostages, Lorenzana said he has no information.

“I have no information about that because the information given to me a while ago is very sketchy, well still have to find out the way they got out from Abu Sayyaf and how they were found,” he said. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News