PNoy: New group may be behind Samal abduction

MANILA, Philippines - A new armed group may be behind the abduction of three foreigners and a Filipino woman from an island resort off Davao City, President Benigno S. Aquino III said Wednesday.

Aquino said law enforcers are now hunting down the abductors of Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sikkengstad and Maritess Flor.

"Basta asahan po ninyo na hindi tumitigil ang ating security sector ng pagtugis dito sa mga tao," Aquino told reporters in Apayao. "Nagkakaroon na ng review paano nangyari ito. At mukhang sa initial na mga report sa atin parang bagong grupo."

"Siyempre, mag-a-account ulit ang ating intelligence services, ano. Bakit nawala sa radar ito? O baka naman talagang bagong-bagong buo itong grupong ito," he added.

Armed men kidnapped the three foreigners and the Filipina at the Holiday Ocean View Samal Resort at Barangay Camudmud in Samal Island late Monday.

The gunmen seized their captives from aboard yachts and reportedly brought them towards Pantukan in Compostela Valley. Some 11 gunmen in two motorized outriggers were involved in the abduction, according to a police official.

READ: 4 kidnapped in Samal resort

Authorities initially suspected the Abu Sayyaf militants were behind the kidnapping.

Before Monday's incident, Aquino said the last abduction incident in Samal happened 10 years ago during the time of "Kumander Global" of the Abu Sayyaf group.

In 2001, the Abu Sayyaf tried but failed to kidnap foreign tourists on Samal Island's Pearl Farm resort. Three security men died fighting the attackers.

Aquino explained that in most of the past kidnapping incidents in Mindanao, there were at least three groups involved - the abductors, the negotiators and the Abu Sayyaf militants.

"Karamihan ng kidnapping na nangyayari, may grupong nagkikidnap tapos itini-turnover sa Abu Sayyaf, amongst others, para sila ang tumangan habang may negosasyon. May iba pang grupo 'yung mga negotiator at tinutugis nating lahat itong tatlong pangkat na ito," he said.