The four Malaysian sailors held for more than two months by ISIS-linked Abu Sayyaf militant group in a predominantly Tausug province in Sulu have been released and returned to Sandakan, Sabah with an emissary early Wednesday.
Sr. Supt. Wilfredo Cayat, Sulu provincial police director, confirmed the release of the two brothers -- Wong Teck Kang, 31, and Wong Teck Chii, 29; their cousin Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21; and Wong Hung Sing, 34 -- who had already returned to Sandakan, Sabah with an emissary.
But he did not give further details.
In a press statement, Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said that the victims were reportedly released by the Abu Sayyaf group early Wednesday morning in Sulu.
"The victims were brought to the shoreline of Barangay Lagasan Higat in Parang, Sulu and immediately boarded a speedboat en route to Sandakan, Sabah," Tan told local defense reporters.
Tan said the information received from the ground units disclosed that the freed victims arrived in Sandakan at about 6am Wednesday.
"We have yet to confirm whether ransom money was paid in exchange for the safe release of the victims," he added.
The four Malaysians had been held since April 1 in the jungles of Sulu after being kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf group off the east coast of Sempornah, Sabah, Malaysia.
According to Tan, the victims who were aboard Tugboat Massive 6 were abducted by the group of sub-leader Madjan Sahidjuan, alias Apuh Mike.
Tan said the information received from the ground units disclosed that the freed victims arrived in Sandakan at about 6am Wednesday.
"We have yet to confirm whether ransom money was paid in exchange for the safe release of the victims," he added.
The four Malaysians had been held since April 1 in the jungles of Sulu after being kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf group off the east coast of Sempornah, Sabah, Malaysia.
According to Tan, the victims who were aboard Tugboat Massive 6 were abducted by the group of sub-leader Madjan Sahidjuan, alias Apuh Mike.
About eight armed men in a motorized vessel intercepted their tugboat in the evening of that day and took them away to Sulu province, one of the strongholds of Abu Sayyaf militants.
It was learned from The Star Online report that Malaysian and Filipino negotiators managed to secure the four’s release from the militant group after several rounds of negotiation.
It said the kidnappers reportedly demanded an RM18 million Malayasian Ringgit or $4 million US Dollars ransom for their release.
It was learned from The Star Online report that Malaysian and Filipino negotiators managed to secure the four’s release from the militant group after several rounds of negotiation.
It said the kidnappers reportedly demanded an RM18 million Malayasian Ringgit or $4 million US Dollars ransom for their release.
The Abu Sayyaf is still holding one Canadian, a Filipina, a Norwegian taken from a resort on Samal Island, Davao del Norte in September 2015, a Dutch birdwatcher kidnapped in 2012 in Tawi-Tawi, and some Filipinos.
Last month, a video circulated by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi websites, the captives from Canada, Norway and the Philippines pleaded for the Canadian and Philippine governments to heed the Abu Sayyaf terror group's ransom demand.
The terrorist group, which beheaded a Canadian hostage last month, set a deadline until June 13 to exccute the three remaining Samal Island hostages in their jungle base in Sulu if a P600 million ransom is not paid by June 13. MGP News
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