Days after a television crew led by Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani was reported missing, the Philippines interior secretary said that one of the Filipino crew members told his family that they are not in any danger, according to local reports.

Atyani, accompanied by two Filipino journalists, a translator and driver had travelled to the island of Jolo to report on militant group Abu Sayyaf, but were reported missing on June 12 when they failed to return to their hotel that evening. As IPI documented, media reports at the time indicated that the journalists were being held for ransom by the group, which the Philippine government has designated a terrorist organization.

An investigation into their disappearance was reportedly launched, but on Tuesday, June 19, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo announced that the journalists were reportedly safe. Chief Superintendent Mario Avenido was quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer as saying: “[Atyani] is a professional and the boss of a news agency and he wants to come out with one good report.”

But yesterday, Robredo reportedly said that Atyani should be banned from re-entering the Philippines for causing trouble. Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III reportedly said that he is “inclined to support the blacklisting of Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani if authorities can prove that he had misled them into believing that the Abu Sayyaf had kidnapped him,” The Philippine Star reported.

“He has to explain, ‘Why are you in touch with the terrorist force in the country and you purposely misled government authorities who were trying to secure you.’ That has to be addressed,” President Aquino was quoted as saying.

IPI is relieved at the initial reports that the journalists are okay, and urged the Philippines government not to take action against the journalist.

“The miscommunication that led to a seemingly unnecessary investigation is unfortunate and we hope that the journalists and authorities discuss how this can be avoided in future,” said IPI Press Freedom Manager Barbara Trionfi.

“However, we stress that it is important for journalists to be free to move freely around the country in order to report on issues of public interest. Banning Baker Atyani from entering the Philippines would be an unnecessarily harsh response to this unfortunate incident.”