THE clock is ticking on the April 8 deadline for the P3-billion ransom being demanded by the Abu Sayyaf who have threatened to behead three foreigners and a Filipino whom they kidnapped from a resort in Samal island last year.
But the military which was tasked to rescue the victims remained unfazed.
“Whatever will happen to the hostages, it is their [ASG’s] responsibility and we will hold them responsible,” said the military’s public affairs chief Colonel Noel Detoyato, who also said there are ongoing “focused” military operations in target areas in Sulu.
“Rest assured that our troops are operating, there is no let up in operation. That was the last order of Chief of Staff General [Hernando] Iriberri,” he added, referring to the mandatory retirement of Iriberri who turns 56 on April 22.
Just last March, the ASG came up with a video and posted it on the Internet showing Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian resort manager Kjartan Sekkingstad, and Hall’s Filipina girlfriend Marites Flor begging for their lives.
The ASG reiterated their threat to kill their captives if the P3-billion ransom is not delivered on or before April 8.
The captives were seized by armed men on Sept. 21 at the Oceanview-Samal Resort in Barangay Camudmud in Babac district in Island Garden City of Samal. They were brought to Sulu and handed to the ASG.
Reports said that the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) had reshuffled some top commanders under its command particularly those in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi allegedly because of the rising number of kidnappings in said areas.
But sources said the reshuffle has to be done so some positions will be made available “to accommodate some senior officers who are due for promotion.”
“It’s a positive thing to do because the commanders that were relieved from their posts are actually holding two command positions. Now they can concentrate on their regular positions,” a senior officer who spoke in condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to talk on the issue.