A video that purports to show four hostages, who appear to be those kidnapped by armed militants in the southern Philippines last month, has been posted online.
The
video shows three hostages who appear to be foreign nationals pleading
for help from the Canadian and Philippine governments. The fourth
person, a Filipino woman, does not speak.
The
hostages are surrounded by masked, heavily armed militants and banners
that appear to be ISIS flags, or jihadist flags which are very similar
in appearance to the infamous black-and-white standard. The kidnappers
do not identify their affiliation in the video, but the Abu Sayyaf
Islamist group is a known militant presence in the area.
The
abductions took place on the evening of September 21 at the Oceanview
Resort on Samal Island, which lies off the coast of the major southern
Philippines island of Mindanao, according to the official Philippines
News Agency.
A spokesperson
for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) told journalists Wednesday
that authorities have seen the video and are evaluating it.
spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla said he could not divulge
operational details and would not comment on the identity of the
kidnappers.
"As
of now our current (military) posture is still the same," he said.
"(Our) posture remains, where our troops are, where our police are, they
will remain to be where they are."
He
added that the kidnappers had not yet made any monetary demands, and
that his government "is doing everything and coordinating with all
agencies concerned locally and outside the country."
The video shows the four hostages, three men and one woman, sitting on the ground in a row together. At least eight armed men wearing scarves to cover their faces standing behind them. The Filipina is sitting on the far left. The camera then zooms in on the man beside her.
He
gives his name as Robert Hall, and after assuring friends and family of
his health he stresses that he and his fellow hostages are in danger.
He asks that his relatives and friends contact the Canadian and
Philippines governments to stop military issues and other issues that
affect the southern Filipino province of Mindanao.
The
camera then pans to the man on the far right, who identifies himself as
Kjartan Sekkingstad, the owner of Oceanview Marina. He echoes Hall's
pleas and warns that if the group's demands are not met the hostages are
under threat of being killed.
The
camera is then trained on the man sitting to Sekkingstad's left. His
head is being held by one of the militants, who is holding a machete in
his other hand.
The captive, who says
his name is John Ridsdel, confirms that they were taken captive from the
Oceanview Marina in Samal island in Davao, and again reiterates his
fellow hostages' pleas that the Canadian and Philippines governments
help them by ceasing bombing, artillery fire and other military
operations so that negotiations can commence.
The camera then pans up to a militant whose face is covered with a green and black scarf, and who wears sunglasses. He demands, in English, that the two governments cease military actions as a prerequisite to opening negotiations for the hostages' release.
The militants then start chanting in Arabic and raising their guns.
The
Filipino Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said at a
press conference Wednesday in Manila that the government's aim is to
"ensure their safety and secure their release and all actions emanate
from this."
The Norwegian government
said it is aware of the existence of the video but would not comment
other than to say that they are working with authorities and the
government of the Philippines on the situation, Rune Bjastad,
Communications Adviser and press contact for the Minister of Foreign
affairs, told CNN. Norwegian media has identified Sekkingstad as one of
the men in the video.
Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs said the government knew that two Canadian citizens had been taken hostage.
"Canadian
officials are in close contact with Filipino authorities and have been
pursuing all appropriate channels to seek further information. The
Government of Canada will not comment or release any information which
may compromise ongoing efforts and risks endangering the safety of
Canadian citizens abroad," a spokesman said.
The
southern Philippines has been plagued by unrest involving Islamist
militants in recent years, including the taking of foreign hostages.
The Philippines News Agency
last month reported that almost a dozen gunmen stormed the resort late
at night, taking the three foreign nationals and one Philippines citizen
hostage
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