2 women kidnapped in Sulu freed by captors

From InterAksyon (Aug 5): 2 women kidnapped in Sulu freed by captors

Suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen on Monday released two women they had kidnapped in Sulu province the day before, authorities said.

Nursalyn Ahamudin Alih, 26, and Shekinah Tan Hamsain were freed hours of each other, Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., who heads the Philippine National Police's Task Force Sulu, confirmed Tuesday morning.

The two were abducted by three suspected Abu Sayyaf members, two of them identified as Ramsid Sali and Injie, around 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Barangay Kaunayan, Patikul town.

“They (women) were released by the ASG separately… so far we don’t have any information if ransom were paid,” Cruz said in a text message.

Earlier, Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Captain Rowena Muyuela said Alih was released in Sitio Kantitap, Barangay Danag, also in Patikul, around 1 a.m. Monday.

She was escorted by Marine troops and her family to Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for medical attention and later brought to her sisters’ residence in Jolo.

Cruz said Hamsain was released around 8 p.m. in Phase 2, Barangay Kakuyagan, also in Patikul.

She was fetched by town police and her mother, and brought to the Integrated Provincial Hospital in Jolo for examination, he added.

The abduction took place even as government security forces have beefed up their presence in Sulu following the deaths of 23 people, including women and children, in an Abu Sayyaf ambush in Talipao town.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/92628/abu-sayyaf-releases-1-of-2-female-kidnapped-victims-in-sulu