NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR Erik Førner (second from left) talks with incoming Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza (center) inside the Davao City Police Office compound on Friday afternoon, while President-elect Duterte was delivering his speech. Førner is set to talk to Duterte later today regarding the status of Kjartan Sekkingstad, the Norwegian national who is still in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf Group.(Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY —- There’s nothing that 38-years old, Marites Flor wants for now, but to see her family after nine months and three days in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf Group.
Flor, who is from Valencia City in Bukidnon province, was freed by the ASG on Friday morning. She was presented to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte on Friday afternoon at the turnover ceremony of the command of the Davao City Police Office here by incoming Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza.
The Davao City-based online Mindanews.com said Flor was reportedly dropped by the ASG members in front of the residence of Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan II in Barangay Asturias in Jolo town, Sulu around 4:30 am, Friday.
Flor was wearing a striped sky blue and white shirt, jeans and slippers when she got out from the vehicle inside the DCPO compound.
“She’s going home to Bukidnon. And she’s looking probably for new life after this,” Dureza told reporters in an interview.
“I came back from Oslo, only to be told that Marites is ready to be turned over to me this morning, I took a plane to Jolo to pick up Marites and now present her to President-elect Duterte,” he said.
‘Act of goodwill’
Dureza said no ransom was paid for the release of Flor.
“Kung ransom di hindi siya ang na-release, iba ang na-release (If there was ransom, then she should not have been released, but another hostage),” he added.
“According to (Gov. Tan) it is an act, gesture of goodwill. Well, that’s what he said. They knew that President-elect Rody Duterte has wanted badly the release of these hostages,” Dureza said.
Dureza added that there were no negotiations.
“We haven’t talked to the ASG, it was (Gov. Tan),” he said. Dureza also cannot give details on whose act of good will it was to have Flor released without ransom.
“Tanungin niyo na lang sa kanila (ask them),” he said.
Flor was one of the four victims abducted by members of the ASG in Holiday Oceanview Resort in Barangay Camudmud, Babak District, Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte province. Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad is still in the hands of the ASG.
The other victims, Canadian nationals John Ridsdel and Robert Hall were beheaded on April 25 and June 13, respectively, after the deadline for the ransom demanded by the captors lapsed. Hall was Flor’s fiancée. The ASG demanded for P300 million ($6.4 million) ransom for each of the victims.
Norwegian national
Dureza said they have no update yet on the status of Sekkingstad, but he said that they were also waiting for his possible release today.
“In fact, when we picked up Marites this morning, at 8:30 am I stopped over in Zamboanga, but we knew that she was already with us, waiting in Jolo. We were waiting for noon time for the possible release of the Norwegian. Only to be informed that there’s no more time left for today. So we picked up Marites,” he said.
During the two-day preliminary talks on June 14-15, between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the government, which is facilitated by the Royal Norwegian Government, Dureza said Duterte and the foreign minister of Norway talked on the phone.
“And there was this earnest request for President-elect Duterte to help in the release of the Norwegian and the other hostages,” he said. (davaotoday.com)
