My comment is about the story aired by Natgeotv about Gregg Williams being kidnapped in the Philippines by the Abu Sayaf. The story is a hoax. I challenged the authenticity due to so many inconsistencies in the story and my posting in their forum was deleted. Below was my original post. I hope someone from NatGeo investigate this fake.

This is a bogus tale. Many inconsistencies in the tale. No Abu Sayaf kidnapping has ever occured from Cebu and taken to Mindanao. The logistics are just too great to overcome. The distance is to great for any small boat to accomplish the trip from Cebu to Mindanao. It means refueling several times and exposed to a lot of traffic and discovery by authority. Second the place of the kidnapping at the port area of Cebu is heavily guarded by government police and military personnel that unles they are involved themselves (Military & Police) in the kidnapping, it would be next to impossible to do it.

Another questionable aspect of his trip is that he claims he was recruited from Florida to become a Missionary in the Phillipines without the proper training in Missionary work and was just ask to come nonchalantly. Usually this trip is sponsored by the Church with complete instructions on what to do. Also you are always met at the airport by somebody from the mission.

The portion about Abu Sabaya using an interpreter to talk to him is also not believable. In all of his kidnappings he has never used an interpreter to broadcast his demands . He usually would like to talk to the media and speaks English during those broadcast.

Also for the Abu Sayaf to kidnap him looking for the blind prophet is totally rediculous. Why would they not kidnap the blind prophet instead of him? He claims that the Abu Sayaf knew that he was in contact with the prophet, in that case then they would know where the prophet is. Also, before the Abu Sayaf stages the kidnappings they have already scouted the area and the person to be kidnapped. They will not kidnap anyone at random unless they are sure they are going to get paid for it. So, they would usually target someone with money. If you are a foriegner travelling they would target expensive resort areas knowing that those who can stay in those resorts has the money and can afford to pay ransom.

The other aspect of the kidnappings is also very questionable. They would not kidnap 2 to 3 people in Cebu and ferry them all the way to Zamboanga and Jolo if they are not sure that they would get any financial benefit out of it. When they kidnap, they usually take more than 2 to 3 people at the same time. Their usual M.O. is to kidnap from a half dozen to a dozen victims at one time. That way it increasses their chances of getting a fat payday.

His mode of escape is very much a fairy tale. Granting that the interpreter is a good Samaritan who is willing to sacrifice himelf and his family for his sake, but it would be foolhardy to believe that his kidnappers are drinking beer and partying at night till the wee hours of the morning. The Abu Sayaf are avowed Muslims and does not touch alcohol. No one who has been kidnapped by them has ever witnessed them dringking alcoholic beverages.

The portion of his escape from the other end of the tunnel makes it seem like the kidnappers are a bunch of keystone cops who does not know what they are doing. If they have been using the cave as a hideout they would have known about the other opening and would have placed a guard on that entrance so no government troops can surprise them through that opening.

This episode should be labled as fiction and not as a true story. I am surprised that NatGeo did not check the inconsistencies of the story before airing it. It is a wonderfully made up fiction.

Next time Natgeo please check the story and its content and make sure they are real.