No sighting of Samal Island kidnap victims yet- AFP

MANILA (PNA) -- Operatives of Joint Task Group Sulu have not sighted yet the three foreigners and a Filipina who were kidnapped by still unidentified group of armed men in Samal Island last Sept. 21.Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado aired this Tuesday in response to claims by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that the three foreigners and one Filipina are already in Sulu. There is no confirmed sighting of the victims in Sulu yet, he said in Filipino.Searches are still ongoing, Arrojado said.He also said that combat operations would continue against lawless elements, which includes the Abu Sayyaf Group, in Sulu. There will be no let up in combat operation, our mandate is to destroy the ASG and rescue the kidnap victims, Arrojado said.The abduction incident took place Sept. 21, 11: 30 p.m., Capt. Alberto Caber, Eastern Mindanao Command public affairs office chief, said.He identified the victims as Canadians John Ridsel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, the resort manager, and a Filipina identified only as Tess .Reports said the suspects were speaking in English and Filipino when they snatched the victims.Two Japanese tourists tried to stop the bandits but failed.At the time of the raid, 30 or more foreigners were at the resort.Joint forces from Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao Philippine Coast Guard and the 10th Infantry Division are now conducting pursuit operations. (PNA)