Tag: Abu Sayyaf
Turn-over ceremony for Norwegian, 3 Indonesians released by Abu Sayyaf in Sulu
Ex-hostage tells of terror as friends beheaded in Philippines
INDANAN, Philippines (AFP) — A Norwegian former hostage on Sunday described his psychological torture as he heard his friends being beheaded by Islamic militants during a year-long captivity in the southern Philippines. A heavily bearded and gaunt Kjartan Sekkingstad, who was released on Saturday by the feared Abu Sayyaf group, also said he narrowly survived military attacks against his captors, with a bullet piercing his backpack. “Basically, I’ve been treated like a slave, carrying their stuff […]
Norwegian hostage freed by Philippine militants ‘lucky to be alive’
INDANAN, Philippines (AFP) – A freed Norwegian hostage said he was “lucky to be alive” Sunday, after being kidnapped by Islamic militants and held in the southern Philippine jungle for more than a year. Kjartan Sekkingstad appeared gaunt and frail as he was handed over to a government envoy along with three Indonesian seamen who had been held captive with him. “I am so very happy and lucky to be alive,” Sekkingstad, heavily bearded […]
US troops don’t go out in camps, can’t be targeted by Abus- Lorenzana
(Eagle News)– Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana insisted on Wednesday (September 14) that the American troops deployed in Mindanao could not be abducted by Abu Sayyaf. According to Lorenzana, the US servicemen are always inside the military camps. “Iyong fears ni Presidente that they (US troops) may be subject to reprisal by Muslims is a little bit … hindi siguro mangyayari dahil nasa kampo lang sila and they don’t go out of the camps,” he said. […]
Indonesia, Philippines vow to tackle sea kidnappings
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) – Indonesia and the Philippines on Friday pledged to ensure security on the high seas after a surge of kidnappings by Islamist militants in the strife-torn southern Philippines. At least 25 Indonesian sailors and a handful of Malaysians have been abducted this year travelling in the Sulu Sea between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Philippine Islamist extremist outfit Abu Sayyaf, notorious for carrying out kidnappings-for-ransom, has been blamed for the abductions. Those […]
Mayor Duterte offers P2M for capture of Davao blast suspects; seeks removal of city police chief
(Eagle News) — Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has offered a P2 million reward for anyone who can give the names and the whereabouts of the suspects in the deadly Sept 2 bombing in a night market in Roxas District in Davao City. The mayor said that P1 million would be given for anyone who can give the name of the suspects, and another P1 million for those who can hand the suspects alive to […]
Philippines seeks three over deadly blast
DAVAO, Philippines (AFP) — Philippines police Sunday were searching for three people wanted for questioning over the bombing of a night market in President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown blamed on an Islamic militant group. The blast, which tore through a bustling market in the heart of Davao city on Friday, killed at least 14 people and led to the president imposing a “state of lawlessness” in the country. The head of Davao police on Sunday described […]
Philippines: Five things to know about the Abu Sayyaf
MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Philippine authorities on Saturday said the Abu Sayyaf, a local Islamic militant group notorious for kidnapping foreigners, was responsible for a deadly night market bombing that killed at least 14 people. Here are five key questions and answers about the Abu Sayyaf: – Who are they? – The group is a radical offshoot of a Muslim separatist insurgency that has claimed more than 120,000 lives in the south of the […]
PNP appeals for public calm and vigilance after deadly Davao blast
(Eagle News) — The Philippine National Police appealed to the public on Saturday (Sept. 3) to remain calm and vigilant after the deadly bombing of a night market in Davao City that killed at least 14 persons and injured more than 60 others. PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said it was important for the public to remain calm and continue on with their normal lives as it was the aim of those behind the […]
Deadly Philippine bomb attack ‘terrorism’: Duterte
by Dennis Santos DAVAO, Philippines (AFP) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday branded the bombing of a night market in his home town that killed at least 14 people an act of terrorism, and announced extra powers for the military to combat the threat. Duterte said there were no confirmed suspects for the attack in the southern city of Davao just before 11:00pm (1500 GMT) on Friday, although he named two Islamic militant groups and […]
Thousands of extra troops deployed to destroy Abu Sayyaf
JOLO, Philippines (AFP) — The Philippine military deployed thousands of extra troops on Tuesday to destroy an Islamic extremist group notorious for kidnapping foreigners, after 15 soldiers were killed, authorities said. President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered his security forces to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf, which has declared allegiance to the Islamic State group and recently beheaded two Canadian hostages. But an assault that began last week on the heavily forested island of Jolo, […]
