'Negotiations for kidnapped Fil-Algerian sisters making headway'

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - Efforts to free the kidnapped Filipino-Algerian sisters in Sulu province is gaining headway, a local official disclosed Tuesday.

Sulu provincial spokesman Sonny Abing, however, declined to provide details of the negotiations by the local crisis management committee with the kidnappers led by Abu Sayyaf member Nenok Sapari.

“We can say nagbubunga na ang efforts. It is gaining headway. However, we cannot just reveal anything yet so as not to preempt what is being initiated for the immediate release of the two victims,” Abing said.

Sisters Linda and Nadjoua Bansil, both independent filmmakers and advocates of peace and the Moro culture in Mindanao, were taken by Sapari's group after visiting Mt. Sinumaan, a bailiwick of the bandit group in Patikul town, last June 22.

The sisters are daughters of an Imam (preacher) and former judge in Pagadian City's Shari'ah Circuit Court, who passed away while they were still young.

The latest development came as the Bansil sisters' siblings, Mohammad and Zackaria, turned to the social media to appeal for the unconditional release of the victims.

The Bansil brothers appealed to the Abu Sayyaf group to free their sisters through a 3-minute video posted on social media.

“Alam namin na nahihirapan sila kung saan sila nakatalaga ngayon. Kami po ay humihingi sa inyo bilang kapwa Muslim, na palayain na po sila,” Mohammad said in the video.

He said his sisters did nothing wrong and they are advocates of peace in Mindanao.

“Sila po ay masisipag at karaniwang tao lang po. Parehas lang tayong mahihirap, sana po ay palayain na po sila,” appealed Mohammad. “Di po namin alam kung sila ay nakakapalit ba sila ng damit o sila ba ay nakakain ng maayos. Sana po kayo ay maawa at maibalik sila sa lalong madaling panahon.”