Freed Abu hostage leaves for Norway
Kjartan Sekkingstad, the Norwegian hostage released by Abu Sayyaf bandits, left yesterday to finally return to Norway after almost a year of captivity in the jungles of Sulu.
Sekkingstad was reportedly accompanied by a relative on board a Thai Airways jet that took off at around 1 p.m.
The Abu Sayyaf released the Norwegian last Sept. 17, nearly a year after he and three others were abducted by the suspects from a resort on Samal Island in Davao on Sept. 21, 2015.
The other captives were Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, and Filipina Marites Flor. Hall, Ridsdel and Flor were visiting the resort’s marina on their yacht and Sekkingstad was manager of the property.
Ridsdel and Hall were executed while Flor was freed last June.
Several diplomats from the Norwegian embassy and of- ficials of the Department of Foreign Affairs accompanied Sekkingstad at the dignitary’s lounge of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal while waiting for his flight.
Sekkingstad was quoted as saying, “I am very happy to be alive and free,” following a meeting with President Duterte together with Norwegian embassy officials in Davao City. “I feel wonderful.”
He said that the bandits treated the hostages like slaves and they were regularly threatened with execution.
Sekkingstad and Norwegian Ambassador Erik Forner arrived at the NAIA domestic terminal 2 from Davao last Sept. 19 for a medical check-up before his scheduled flight home.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) believed the terror group is still holding 11 foreigners and six Filipinos captive.