Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza presented on Saturday two freed hostages.
The South Korean and Filipino hostages were freed in Sulu and were flown to Davao City.
The hostages were identified as Park Chul Hong, the captain of MV Dong Bang Giant, and crew member Glenn Alindajao who hails from Cebu. The two were abducted by 10 armed men on October 20, 2016 off the waters of Bongao in Tawi-tawi.
The government said Park and Alindajao were abducted by Abu Sayyaf leader Abraham Hamid. But when Hamid was killed in a shootout in December, the hostages were turned over to another kidnapping group.
Upon their release, Dureza said the hostages were turned over by “a group of handlers” to the MNLF. They were then passed to Sulu Governor Datu Shah Bandar Sakur Tan, who brought the hostages to the airport to meet with Dureza.
Dureza said no ransom was paid by the government for the release of the hostages.
“We don’t engage in ransom negotiations… The more money you give, the more they are encouraged to continue,” he said.
Dureza: Residents protect captors
Dureza acknowledged the problem in local communities where the residents protect the captors instead of giving leads to the government to rescue abductees.
“Every time they go to a community, they are welcomed and the local community members also protect the takers… Pati yung mga ordinary residents dun, tumutulong,” he said.
He said there will be no let-up in the military operations of the government against kidnapping, adding they also have to address the needs of the local environment supporting this type of activities.
“We have to address the enabling environment through massive social intervention,” he said.
Dureza added the government is working on the release of 27 more hostages.
