The hostage release drama; truly a happy ending

09/21/2016 | 2:18 0 Posted in Uncategorized

It was truly a happy ending for all. The Abu Sayyaf gave up its hostages to the head of the MNLF Nur Misuari. Nur Misuari, in turn handed over the released hostages to Jesus Dureza the advisor to the President of the Philippines.

Released hostages included 3 Malaysian Fishermen two Filipino employees and a Norwegian.

While all the people congratulated each other on the success something still rankled in the minds of the onlookers. That much was obvious.

Although everyone said that no money exchanged hands, it was not true. However, it is happy news since everything turned up saving lives. All the hostages got a second life for their dear one who was finally coming home alive in one piece

Released hostage from Norway Kjartan Sekkiingstad looked tired and run down.
They were kidnapped one year ago from Davao. Two citizens of Canada John Risdel and Robert hall; the kidnapped included a Filipino Marites Flor.

The Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad who got back his freedom and emerging alive from the Abu Sayyaf bandits expressed happiness. He narrated the events, roughly explaining that he had a tough time in captivity. After abducting them, the bandits used them like porters to carry their luggage through the jungle. The captors changed their hideouts often since military combing operations were taking place.

ASG bandits treated them like personal slaves and kept threatening them with beheading. The Abu Sayyaf men kept them in a constatnt state of uncertainty about their fate.

That incident that they forcibly witnessed when the two Canadians were beheaded is still etched in their minds. The Abu Sayyaf prepared videos and posted them on various forums on the internet.

A large ransom of P 100 million got the reprieve that the Norwegians family wanted; they paid the ransom. The government of Norway or the Philippines did not pay anything to secure the release of Kjartan Sekkingstad. President Duterte also revealed that the government of the Philippines also paid a ransom for the release of the captives.

However, he did mention that his government still followed the no ransom policy.

He stated that he did not know if any other agency or people had made any payments towards ransom to secure the release of the hostages. A government spokesman denied any information about the payment of ransom by anyone.

But, the whole episode of the release of the hostages and the issue of ransoms do raise an iota of doubt about the kind of dealings that the desperate Duterte government is prepared to go to.

Their involvement with the MNLF to secure the release makes these questions crop up. It seems that the involvement of money did alter the equations of allies and adversaries.

After all, Nur Misuari and his supporters are also marauders and kidnappers and fighting the government in a bloody war. But, intentions in this came seem to be very opportunistic and selfish.

The whole situation of the hostage-taking, the instances of payment of ransoms and the policies of the players from Misuari to AbuSayyaf to Dyeterte are in question.

The shrewd games that politicians play

It is obvious that Misuari was playing a very shrewd game; we do not know how much money he earned. But, it is clear that, he did earn the gratitude of President Duterte, the Norwegians and the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Misuari also hogged the limelight when he waited for the President to present the hostages in front of the press. He thus emerged a clear hands-down winner. He got projected as the benign, all-powerful lord of the whole episode.

cameras flashed at the Jolo airport ensured him the maximum TRP.
He has suddenly taken center stage as a facilitator and negotiator. This is a far cry from the man who got 300 people massacred and about a quarter of a million displaced in the bloody siege os Zamboanga City in 2013.

Misuari lived in Malaysia but returned earlier this year emboldened by the conducive situation. The election of Duterte is also a shot in the arm for him.
He was not the only one who milked the whole episode to his advantage. The Abu Sayyaf Group not only earned some much-needed money, they also got enough mileage. ASG earned the goodwill of the Norwegians and the release also got them some easing of pressure.

President Rodrigo Duterte also earned some points though there may be some eyebrows still raised in his direction.

Ransom money exchanged hand for the release of the three fishermen from Malaysia. A win-win situation for the insurgents, and fully paid up too.