Authorities puzzled over Jordanian's fate

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Authorities are puzzled over the fate of the captive Jordanian broadcast journalist and  could not ascertain his location, following attempts of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to free the victim from Abu Sayyaf captivity in Sulu.

Police official said there was no sighting or information on the location of Baker Abdullah Atyani since the conflict between the MNLF forces under Ustadz Habier Malik and the Abu Sayyaf group under Radullan Sahiron erupted.

Chief Superintendent Noel delos Reyes, police director for Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said his forces in Sulu continue to look for leads on Atyani's whereabouts.

“So far, they have no information on the whereabouts of Atyani,” Delos Reyes said.

Atyani, bureau chief of the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya news channel, was taken hostage along with television crew Filipinos Ramelity Vela and Roland Letrero on June 13, 2012 by the Abu Sayyaf group.

The Abu Sayyaf militants have recently released Vela and Letrero in the mountain of Patikul town,  prompting the MNLF to launch an offensive.

There were unconfirmed information that the Jordanian captive has been handed over to another group after ransom money changed hands.

Delos Reyes, who visited the police forces in Sulu last week to assess the situation, said there is no concrete information yet on  Atyani's fate.

He said the MNLF leaders that they talked  with during his visit also gave no information on the possible whereabouts of the captive Jordanian.

“Iyong mga nakausap naming na MNLF gave no information kung hawak na nila (si Atyani),” Delos Reyes said.

Malik, in a statement recently, said  they will continue the search for Atyani whom they believed is still being kept in Sulu.

Malik warned that they will continue to help in seeking the freedom of their fellow Muslim.

“Ang kapatid natin na galing sa ibang bansa ay umaasa na ma-protect siya ng kapatid na Muslim dito,” Malik said.