MILF to help secure release of 2 abducted indie filmmakers in Sulu

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Wednesday said it will help secure the release of the two independent filmmakers who were abducted by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits last Saturday in Sulu province.

In a post on its news site Luwaran, the MILF said it instructed its "political and military organs" in Sulu to "do whatever is necessary" to secure the freedom of sisters Nadjoua Bansil and Linda Bansil.

"The leadership of the (MILF) has asked its political and military organs in the island province of Sulu to do whatever is necessary to secure the early release of Nadjova and Linda Abdelbasit... who were kidnapped by suspected 10 heavily-armed Abu Sayyaf in village Liang, Patikul last Saturday, June 22," it said.

The group, which has inked a landmark framework agreement with the Philippine government in October last year, did not give further details on how the units concerned will carry out the directive.

The sisters, who are Filipino citizens of Moroccan descent, were reportedly shooting an indie film about the Sulu sultanate when they were abducted.

The MILF cited reports identifying two of the kidnappers as Aljini Mundo a.k.a. Ninok Sapari and Bensaudi Mundoc. The two are reportedly linked to “Lucky 9” group of the Abu Sayyaf.

Initial investigation showed the sisters were aboard a passenger jeep going to Jolo from Tambang village in Patikul when they were abducted.

The group noted that the victims' father is the late Ustadz Abdulbasset Bansil of Sultan Sa Barongis in Maguindanao, who the group described as someone who "spoke English and French (and) was a member of the Shariah Bar in the Philippines.”

“He was a highly travelled man, but remained not rich during his lifetime,” the MILF said of Bansil. “The family has a meager income to this day.” — KBK, GMA News