PNP presents 2 Filipino crew of abducted Jordanian

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 4): PNP presents 2 Filipino crew of abducted Jordanian

Two freed Filipino crewmen of Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani Monday recounted to media their 8-month ordeal while held captive by their Abu Sayyaf captors in the jungles of Sulu.

The two -- Ramelito Vega, 38, seated on a wheel chair, and Rolan Letreto, were freed Saturday evening -- were presented during a news conference in Camp Crame.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima and Police Sr. Supr. Renato Gumban, head of  PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group, presented the two after they were released to freedom.

The duo were kidnapped eight months back along with Atyani, a Jordanian national and bureau chief of the Middle East Broadcasting Network in an undisclosed place in the Sulu capital of Jolo.  Vega said the abductors treated them well and did not hurt them, although he admitted shock when he and his companion were in Jolo last weekend.

Vega said he was not aware if there were demands for ransom or any negotiations for their release. “Wala kaming alam na perang negosyayong, nagulat na lang kami nun...nabulaga ako na nasa bayan ako ng Sulu... ang trato namin duon parang anak, ni kurot di kami sinaktan, kung anong kinakain nila, kinakain namin, puwede kaming kumuha ng prutas magpapaalam ka lang. Kapag nililipat kami naka military fatigue kami,” Vega said.

He added they were releaseb by more or less 20 abductors in the hinterlands of Sulu because of the escalating firefight between the Moro National Liberation Front and the Abu Sayyaf Group.

For his part, Purisima said for now, the two are undergoing debriefing for the possible identification of the perpetrators and they are also gathering information from the pair in preparation for filing a case against the abductors.

Gumban said the two have no idea on the whereabouts of Atyani whom they last saw five days after they were seized.  He added Atyani was still in the Sulu area and still alive, according to their intelligence reports and also with the coordination of Atyani’s family in Dubai.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=494063