But Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda denied the report which was also published by The Manila Times, adding Cenabre also denied giving a statement with the Mindanao Examiner regarding initiatives in arresting Atyani and charging him with espionage.
Military and police said Atyani’s group arrived in Sulu on June 11 and went to the Abu Sayyaf the next day to secretly interview terror leaders and other rebel commanders, including Jemaah Islamiya militants hiding on the island.
The Jordanian journalist had made prior arrangement with the Abu Sayyaf to film a documentary about the terror group. Authorities said Atyani also deceived local officials after he claimed to be filming government projects in Sulu, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.
Atyani, who had previously interviewed al-Qaeda terror leader Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan months before the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, contacted his colleagues to say that they are being held against their will.
Provincial officials had repeatedly warned Atyani against interviewing the Abu Sayyaf, but the trio went ahead and secretly met with terrorist leaders, among them Nadzmie Alih. They were first reported missing after failing to return to their hostel in Jolo town, but phoned local officials two days later to say that they were still filming a documentary on the Abu Sayyaf.
Jordan insisted the trio was kidnapped, but Philippine authorities denied this and said Atyani’s group went to meet with terrorists on their own volition and despite being prevented by the police and military.
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