Abus free Baker Atyani

From the Manila Standard Today (Dec 4): Abus free Baker Atyani

FOREIGN correspondent Baker Atyani has been freed after being held captive for a year and a half by Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Mindanao, the Al-Arabiya News Channel announced on Wednesday evening.

"This was confirmed by our senior management earlier today and comes after long months and several attempts to free Baker from his kidnappers," a senior editor was quoted as saying in Al Arabiya News Channel's website.

Senior Supt. Abraham Orbita said the Sulu provincial police took custody of Atyani, who was kidnapped in 2012 with two Filipino crew members, in Barangay Ingasan in Patiku town around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

He was brought to the Sulu Integrated Provincial Hospital for a medical check-up and was to be taken to the police headquarters for debriefing.

"The Philippines authorities are now responsible for ensuring his safe return to his family in Jordan," the Al-Arabiya News Channel said in a statement.

Atyani, a Jordanian national, went to Sulu to interview Abu Sayyaf terrorists on June 12, 2012 but was detained by the militants.

But his two Filipino crew men, Rolando Letrero and Ramilito Velam were released in February. They said they had been separated from Atyani since June 17, 2012, five days after their abduction in Sulu.

The police said they received a call from Vela them that he and Letrero were released by their captors and were at the ANR Hotel in Jolo.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/12/04/abus-free-baker-atyani/