2 church workers abducted in Basilan freed

From GMA News (Oct 20): 2 church workers abducted in Basilan freed

Two lay Church workers who were abducted in Basilan last September 4 were freed Thursday night after 43 days in captivity, a religious group said over the weekend.

An article posted on the Claretian Missionaries website identified the two as Fredrick Banut, 24, and Cherben Masong, 25, workers of the CSFI Bajau Literacy Program.

"(Both) were finally released, handed over to the military and arrived in Zamboanga City early morning of Friday, October 18, 2013 after (43) days of being held captive [by] armed men who took them at 9 in the evening of the 4th of September, 2013 at the Bajau Learning Center in Sitio Pangasaan, Brgy. Tairan, in the town of Lantawan, Basilan.," the Claretian Missionaries said.

It said the two met their families in the afternoon of Friday.

"We thank the Lord for this grace and we thank all those who have prayed for their safety," it said.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said Saturday night the two were released in Jolo, Sulu on Thursday night.

On the other hand, the CBCP said the armed men who took the two Church workers remained unidentified.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/331648/news/regions/2-church-workers-abducted-in-basilan-freed