Video gives good picture of hostages, says AFP

A VIDEO clip that surfaced online showing the four Samal Island tourists kidnapped by militants nearly six months ago is a good indication of the captives’ condition, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“The video, for all it is worth, is a good indication of the kidnap victims’ present condition. It also presents important information on the group that is holding them right now,” said Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP public affairs office chief.

In the video, the foreigners—all emaciated, bearded and shirtless—pleaded for their lives as they called on their respective families and governments to meet the ransom being demanded by their abductors.

The video of about a minute and a half was posted on a Facebook page linked to Philippine Islamists.

The security sector said it will abide by the government’s “no ransom policy” even with the Abu Sayyaf’s threats to kill the hostages within a month if the ransom demands are not met.

The AFP maintained that it will continue on its focused military operations in support of the police operations to rescue the victims and pursue their kidnappers.

Detoyato said the safety of the hostages is a primary concern during combat and focused military operations to rescue the kidnap victims.

The AFP issued the statement after the release of a video that showed men claiming to be part of the Abu Sayyaf group threatening to kill the four hostages abducted in September last year.

The video in question was posted on the Facebook page Pamantasan ng Tawheed and Jihaad Filibin on Thursday.

In the video, the men gave the Canadian government a month or until April 8 to act on their P4-billion ransom demand or the hostages will be killed.

In September last year, Canadian nationals John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingatad and Filipina Maritess Flor were snatched from a resort on Samal Island in Davao del Norte by armed men.

Later on, a video of the tourists surfaced in which the P4-billion ransom demand was made. Another video demanded for a halt to military operations in Sulu before the start of the negotiations for the hostages’ freedom.

The embassies of the foreign captives have declined to comment on the demands being made by the kidnappers.

A spokesperson for Canada’s foreign minister said the government was aware of the video but did not want to comment or provide new information in case it endangered the captives.

Calgary-based TVI Pacific, where Ridsdel was a semiretired consultant, declined to comment.

According to Matt Williams, the Philippines country director for Pacific Strategies and Assessments, a risk mitigation company that tracks rebel groups, the release of a dramatic, threatening video is a common tactic of the group.