AFP confirms release of German hostages

From GMA News (Oct 17): AFP confirms release of German hostages

The Abu Sayyaf Group has released its two German hostages, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Friday night.

According to a report on “State of the Nation with Jessica Soho” Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Gregorio Catapang confirmed that the captives were released at around 8:50 p.m.
The German nationals, identified as Stefan Victor Okonek and Henrike Diesen, were found at a checkpoint in Patikul, Sulu and are now in military custody, the report said.

"As of 9:20 p.m., they are now undergoing medical checkup. They will proceed to Zamboanga City and will be given additional medical attention," Major General Domingo Tutaan, AFP spokesman, said in a text message to GMA News Online.

He said the two will be flown to Manila from Zamboanga City.

GMA News stringer Jayvee Francisco, who is in Zamboanga, earlier reported that the Abu Sayyaf announced over a local radio station that they had freed the Germans.

The two Germans were abducted last April while on a yacht in the waters between Palawan and Malaysia.

The Abu Sayyaf initially gave a 3 p.m. deadline for a P250-million ransom to be paid, but extended it to 5 p.m.

Aside from the money, the Abu Sayyaf also demanded that the military withdraw from Sulu and that the German government withdraw its support for a US-led campaign against the militant Islamic State.

According to a Reuters report, Abu Rami, the spokesman for the small but violent Abu Sayyaf group, had told a radio station based in Zamboanga that the hostages had been freed.

Rami said Abu Sayyaf had received the amount in full.

"The (money) arrived, nothing more, nothing less," he said.

Catapang, in a separate interview with GMA News refused to comment on whether money changed hands.

"Wala kaming alam kung may nangyaring ganun," he said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/384074/news/regions/afp-confirms-release-of-german-hostages