"We have discovered the location and so have to evaluate various options, but the safety of the hostages would remain a priority," Sutiyoso said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), Sutiyoso, confirmed on Thursday that BIN had discovered the location where 10 Indonesian citizens are being held by Abu Sayyaf group in the Philippines.

"We have discovered the location and so have to evaluate various options, but the safety of the hostages would remain a priority," he said at the presidential palace compound.

He further said in its capacity as an intelligence agency, BIN would continue to disseminate information about developments in the case, along with any updates.

He said he had ordered his personnel to closely cooperate with the Philippine intelligence with regards to knowing the development of the case.

"We keep supplying information to the government, including the commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), who I met last night," he said.

Sutiyoso asked the media to keep monitoring its development and demanded that they would not report it excessively.

Regarding the condition of the 10 Indonesian hostages he assured they were safe.

"They are still safe, but we do not know if they have been separated from each other or not," he said.

Sutiyoso explained that besides the 10 Indonesian citizens, there were also 11 citizens from Canada, the Netherlands, Norway and the Philippines who had been held by the group.

"Of course politically it is not easy for us to pursue the option of hitting them to save the hostages, besides the tactical aspects of such a move," he said.

The Indonesian government, he said, would continue to prioritize negotiations for at least the next eight days.

Asked about the rejection of the Philippines government of the Indonesian offer to help in dealing with the case, Sutiyoso said he thought it might have to do with pride and reputation.

"They may perhaps think of pride and reputation. We will also do it by ourselves when a hostage situation arises in the country. In view of that we need to coordinate. Let us just wait and see," he added.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016