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ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—Abu Sayyaf spokesperson Abu Ramie said Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad was readied for release since Friday night. Ramie said they were just waiting for the delivery of the P30-million ransom in exchange for Sekkingstad’s freedom. READ: Duterte spills secret: P50M paid to Abu Sayyaf Sekkingstad was one of the four people the Abu Sayyaf abducted from a marina on Samal Island in Davao del Norte. Two of his companions, Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall were beheaded separately. BACKSTORY: Abu Sayyaf: We are going to behead Norwegian hostage Hall’s Filipino girlfriend, Marites Flor was also freed in June. Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte said P50 million had already been paid for the Norwegian’s release but the Abu Sayyaf held on to him. Latest Shadow of ‘O.J. Simpson’ looms large at Emmys Self-Driving Uber officially hits the road in Pittsburgh Russia says UN meeting cancelled over US objections Daredevil successfully powers rocket over Snake River Canyon Recommended Disclaimer: Comments do not represent the views of INQUIRER.net. We reserve the right to exclude comments which are inconsistent with our editorial standards. FULL DISCLAIMER View Comments For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. AFP FILE PHOTO Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was among those singled out by the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights for speaking against and opposing human rights institutions and investigations. High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, at the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council on Tuesday, spoke out against Duterte’s earlier comments about the UN and human rights violations allegedly perpetrated in relation to his war against drugs. “The President of the Philippines’s statements of scorn for international human rights law display a striking lack of understanding of our human rights institutions and the principles which keep societies safe,” he said Al Hussein pointed out that “fair and impartial rule of law is the foundation of public confidence and security” and that “Empowering police forces to shoot to kill any individual whom they claim to suspect of drug crimes, with or without evidence, undermines justice.” “The people of the Philippines have a right to judicial institutions that are impartial, and operate under due process guarantees; and they have a right to a police force that serves justice,” he said. “I strongly encourage the Philippines to extend an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.” Duterte, who is leading a war against illegal drug trade, has repeatedly criticized the United Nations as human rights groups raise concerns about drug-related killings, which have resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. In June, he Read More …

Abu Sayyaf stronghold captured by Joint Task Force Basilan in intensive military offensives. Photo by CPIO WESTMINCOM KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Asean should confront Abu Sayyaf and Islamic State as a unified force because these terror groups have become a common threat to the region, said an expert on terrorism. There was a need for the regional grouping to unanimously decide on action to be taken against these militant groups, said associate professor Dr. Aruna Gopinath, desk officer on South-East Asian Studies at the Centre for Defence and International Security Studies of Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia. A united stand is important especially against Abu Sayyaf, which has been recognized by Islamic State as “a caliphate in the region”, she said. “Asean has to decide whether there is a need for a military offensive against the Philippine terrorist group. “We believe in the Asean non-interference policy but this is a common threat now because Abu Sayyaf is not just attacking Malaysia. It’s going everywhere from Thailand to Singapore and we don’t know what their next move is,” she said. On the non-interference policy, Dr. Aruna said negotiations can only take place when you are able to talk to somebody but when diplomacy fails, “the ultimatum is war”. “I believe if these people are not cooperating, we should go on the military offensive,” she said, referring to the recent rise in abductions by the group. RELATED STORY Malaysia PM Najib wants Abu Sayyaf attacks stopped No Asean haven for terrorism Latest Pangilinan: There should Read More …

From L-R: Malaysian Defense Minister Hishamuddin Hussein, Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, and Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana pose for a group photo on the third Trilateral Defence Minister’s Meeting in Nusa Dua on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on August 2, 2016. AFP PHOTO NUSA DUA, Indonesia—Indonesia Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu on Wednesday (August 3) held an informal one-hour closed-door meeting with his Philippine counterpart Delfin Lorenzana in Bali to discuss the progress on efforts to free 10 Indonesian sailors held by the Abu Sayyaf group. READ: Abu kidnappers seize 7 Indonesians | 3 Indonesians kidnapped by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits Ryamizard said the Philippines was stepping up its campaign against Abu Sayyaf to achieve the release of the ten Indonesians, who are held hostage in the Sulu Islands region. The militant group, deemed terrorists by Manila, reportedly brought the hostages to Sulu after the Philippine Army managed to clear Basilan Island of Abu Sayyaf members. Aside from the military campaign, there was a negotiation process, which had received backing from Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari, Ryamizard said, adding that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte would soon visit Indonesia to discuss the crisis. “The Sulu governor is currently working with Misuari. The negotiations are progressing well. Unlike previous governors who had supported Abu Sayyaf, the current governor of Sulu is pro-government,” Ryamizard said. Misuari was formerly an ally of the Abu Sayyaf group. He first wanted the Philippine government to grant autonomy to Sulu, while the latter Read More …

Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, sixth from left, and Laotian Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, sixth from right, stand with with Southeast Asian foreign ministers, from left, an unidentified delegate from Malaysia, Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, Vivian Balakrishnan of Singapore, Don Pramudwinai of Thailand, Pham Binh Minh of Vietnam, Thongloun Sisoulith, Saleumxay Kommasith, Perfecto Yasay Jr. of the Philippines, Brunei’s Trade Minister Jock Seng Pehin Lim, Sakhonn Prak of Cambodia, Retno Marsudi of Indonesia and ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh, as they pose for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Sunday, July 24, 2016. AP Photo VIENTIANE, Laos—Vietnam has warned that the inability of Southeast Asian nations to forge a unified front against Beijing’s militarization of the South China Sea is a “test” of the regional bloc in the face of its greatest security challenge. The unusually strong comments from a key claimant to the contested waters, comes as diplomats meet in Laos for the first summit since a UN-backed tribunal debunked Beijing’s legal claim to vast stretches of the strategically vital sea. After talks stuttered on Sunday, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a late night statement warning that the South China Sea had become “a test case for the unity and the central role of Asean.” READ: China divide and rule splits Asean “Many ministers stressed that in this context, Asean should promote solidarity, unity and a central role,” the Read More …