After a decades-long insurgency, the MNLF is currently engaged in peace talks with President Rodrigo Duterte. The Abu Sayyaf is not part of the peace process. "These recent breakthroughs were a convergence of efforts that President Duterte initiated, getting cooperation of the MNLF, Dureza said. In mid-September, a Norwegian hostage kidnapped in 2015 and three other Indonesian seamen were handed over by the Abu Sayyaf to Misuari who then passed them on to the government. A few days later, another kid- napped Indonesian sailor was freed through the MNLF. Military sources say the Abu Sayyaf are still holding a Dutch hostage, five Malaysians, two Indonesians and four Filipinos in their jungle stronghold.