Freed Jordanian journalist malnourished, suffering from trauma

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The Sulu police have placed under debriefing the Jordanian broadcast journalist who escaped from Abu Sayyaf captivity because he is suffering from trauma, security official.

Col. Jose Jhoriel Cenabre, Joint Task Force Sulu commander,  said Baker Atyani has to be debriefed by the provincial police forces as there were operational information the victim could share about the group of the Abu Sayyaf that took him captive for more than a year in the mountains of Sulu.

Atyani, 44, bureau chief of the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya news channel, was held captive since June 13, 2012 along with his two of his Filipino television crewmen Romelito Vela and Roland Letrero when they were supposed to meet the Abu Sayyaf group for an interview in the mountains of Sulu.

Atyani’s two companions were freed last February when rebels from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) intervened and clashed with the Abu Sayyaf group.

“There were initial information that Atyani revealed to interrogating police about his Abu Sayyaf captors. However, the details of the information are classified as operational,” Cenabre said.

The police forces also want to know how Atyani escaped his captors. The journalist was found by  patrolling police forces in Barangay Igasan, Patikul, an area known to be infested by the Abu Sayyaf group.

Sporting long hair and a beard, Atyani is confined at the provincial hospital because he is feeling weak and has lost weight, according to Cenabre who was able to talk to the victim.

"Atyani is okay but he lost weight. He is suffering from trauma and could not sleep at night,” Cenabre added.

Cenabre said Atyani is expected to be flown out to Manila soon.

He said police authorities have informed the Jordanian embassy about Atyani's escape.

Meanwhile, officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said physicians who examined the journalist found that Atyani is showing signs of malnutrition.

Citing reports from the Integrated Provincial Health Office of Sulu, Laisa Alamia, executive secretary of ARMM, said Atyani,looked pale and  dehydrated.

“He was given necessary medical intervention immediately,” Alamia told reporters.

Atyani, of the Al Arabiya News Channel, was found by policemen at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday wandering in a farm in Barangay Igasan. - with John Unson