Dismiss Rumors, Susi Pudjiastuti Ensures Susi Air Pilot Philip Mark Is Not OPM

Susi Air Pilot Philip Mark Merthens, a New Zealand national, is being held hostage by the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The founder and owner of Susi Air's airline, Susi Pudjiastuti, has dismissed rumors and confirmed that New Zealandese Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens is part of the Free Papua Organization (OPM).

"That's not very true, saying Philip is with the OPM or something, it's not," said Susi during a press conference quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, March 1.

Susi said that until now she had received information regarding Philip's whereabouts from official news provided by the Government through the TNI and Polri, due to the difficulty of the terrain and limitations of communication lines in the Papua region which was the location for Philip's hostage-taking.

"And we are just waiting for of course from the efforts that the local government continues to make and also continue to make a soft approach for the TNI-Polri," he said.

He hopes that Philip Mark Mehrtens will soon be released from unconditional hostage after 22 days in the hands of the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) led by Egianus Kogoya.

"We still hope and pray for our pilots that in the end our pilot, captain Philip can be released unconditionally, if possible," he said.

Susi has known Philip for a long time. He also considered Philip to be one of the best pilots of Susi Air. Philip had previously worked at Susi Air in 2012.

"I remember because before he resigned from Susi Air (at) 2015, (he) was one of Susi Air's best pilots," he added.

Philip then resigned from Susi Air in 2015 and moved to another airline. Until finally Philip rejoined Susi Air during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I know the family of his wife, Phil, my cooperation from the year, almost 10 years, right, he worked from 2012 to 2015, then left, then returned in 2020," he explained.

The former minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries also mentioned the close relationship between himself and Philip because he knew Philip's wife who had worked at his fisheries company.

"He married a Pangandaran person. In the past, his wife also worked at my fishery company, how many decades ago. So, (we) were very close and their children were very good," he said.