Duterte: NPA not behind kidnapping of foreigners on Samal

“We just don’t have all the information at the moment”, Aquino said.

“I cannot confirm this (information) unless there are two to three military ground units of their “alpha”- meaning their asset – who could really confirm on the ground”, Arrojado said.

He said that he had sought the help of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front – the country’s largest rebel group, which is presently involved in a peace process with the government – which had also promised to help solve the mystery.

The intelligence report was however raw and is still subject for verification, as stated by the source.

However, Arrojado said whether the victims taken from Samal Island were brought to Sulu or not, their relentless operations to rescue the rest of the kidnap victims in the island continue.

“The NPA don’t kidnap for money, it’s an ideological thing for them”, Duterte continued.

On the other hand, Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao command chief Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad was tight-lipped on the issue, saying he could not divulge “operational matters”.

The intelligence source, as stated in a report, revealed that the kidnappers and their victims arrived onboard a white speedboat in Barangay Kaunayan in Patikul, Sulu around 12:30 p.m. of Tuesday, September 22 or roughly 13 hours after the abduction in Samal.

The province of Sulu is within the area of responsibility of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command.

“There have been sightings but these are being validated”. But the general was quick to clarify that the group is separate from the Abu Sayyaf.

The President said he did not want to disrupt efforts to rescue the victims.

“The way they executed their movement was very precise, they did not exhibit any hesitancy, not even fear”, Duterte said of the armed men.

“I already sent word, if I could go there”.

“On the part of the police units in other area, we have already gave them the description so that they can intercept”, he added.

On the third day of its probe, the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Oceanview created by the Philippine National Police is still investigating the kidnapping of Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, and Filipina Marithes Flor.

In 2001, the Abu Sayyaf made an unsuccessful attempt to kidnap a group of foreigners from Samal Island’s Pearl Farm Beach Resort.