October 15, 2015•Update: October 15, 2015
By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines
The Philippines army has rejected a gunpoint video appeal by four hostages for a stop to military operations in the Philippines south, saying that it will not negotiate with lawless militants.
The al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf - who goverment forces have been battling for years - is suspected of being behind the kidnappings
GMA News quoted army spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla as saying that the armed forces would not negotiate with such groups, and offensives to clamp down on such militancy would continue.
"The policy of the government, as well as others who have been in this kind of situation, is that no negotiations can take place with any of those perpetrating this crime," GMA quoted Padilla as saying.
"As far as we are concerned, that is what applies [here]."
Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipina Maritess Flor were snatched by armed men at the Holiday Oceanview Samal Resort on Samal Island in Davao del Norte on Sept. 21.
In a text message late Wednesday, Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado -- military task group commander for Sulu province -- said they will continue offensives against the Abu Sayyaf in the province, where many hostages are being held captive by the group.
"We reiterate the government's 'no negotiation with lawless groups and no ransoms' policy," Arrojao said.
The statements come after the hostages appealed for a stop to military operations in a Youtube video shot by their armed captors, who added that negotiations would only begin when the offensives stopped.
However, Arrojado said the video does not conclusively show that the hostages are on the island of Jolo in the Sulu archipelago.
"We can't confirm yet," he said. "Maybe it is a mock-up scenario filmed in some other place in Mindanao to divert or stop our military offensives."
"There will be no let up in our operations," he underlined.
Task group spokesman Capt. Antonio Bulao said in a text message that it was still not certain that the abductors were members of the Abu Sayyaf.
Bulao said the military are still validating the group's identity while trying to determine their location.
Meanwhile, Padilla said it was good to see that the victims were alive and apparently in good health.
Since 1991, the Abu Sayyaf -- armed with mostly improvised explosive devices, mortars and automatic rifles -- has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortions in a self-determined fight for an independent Islamic province in the Philippines.
It is notorious for beheading victims after ransoms have failed to be paid for their release.
