Manila: The Philippine government announced it would intensify its offensive against Abu Sayyaf following the Friday evening release of two Germans held hostage in Sulu.
“With the release from captivity of the two German nationals, our security forces will continue efforts to stem the tide of criminality perpetrated by bandit elements,” Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr of the presidential communications office said in a statement issued Saturday.
The Abu Sayyaf reportedly released 71-year-old doctor Stefan Okonek and his partner, Henrite Dielen 55 on Friday evening after the group had earlier threatened to kill one of them if the German government refused to pay ransom.
A report reaching Manila said the Germans were released after a covert effort was made to pay the ransom demanded by the Abu Sayyaf.
But deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, when asked on government radio station dzRB on Saturday, said she could not confirm that payment was indeed made in exchange for the release of Okenek and Dielen. The palace official reiterated the Philippines government does not negotiate with terrorists, let alone kidnap-for-ransom groups like the Abu Sayyaf.
“As we have said in the past, the primary concern is the safety of the hostages and the President was happy to receive the news yesterday that the two German hostages have already been recovered at around 9pm,” she said.
Earlier, the website Worldanalysis.net reported that an Abu Sayyaf leader claiming to be Abu Rami was demanding P250 million (Dh20.49 million) for the freedom of the two Germans.
Aside from the ransom, Abu Sayyaf also demanded that Germany cease air strikes against Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Abu Sayyaf had warned the couple would be executed at 3pm Friday October 17.
Okenek and Dielen were kidnapped April 24 at sea between Malaysia and Palawan. They were taken to Sulu and were held captive for nearly six months in the mountains of southern Philippines.
Reports said the at around 8:30pm Friday, residents saw the couple walking by the roadside in Patikul, Sulu.
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, General Pio Catapang said residents had taken the couple to the local headquarters of the marines which in turn took them to
Camp Bautista in Jolo, Sulu.
From Sulu, they were taken by ferry to Zamboanga City;
Okenek and Dielen arrived at Villamor Air Base in Metro Manila at 6:45am Saturday, military spokesman Maj. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr. said.
Tutaan said with the recovery of the Germans, the government would intensify operations to recover the two foreigners and three Filipinos still being held hostage by Abu Sayyaf in Sulu. The military has deployed at least seven battalions of soldiers, including specialised military units in a bid to end the abductions and rescue the remaining hostages.
