FOUR Indonesians seized by the Abu Sayyaf last month have been released and were turned over yesterday to the military by the local government of Jolo, Sulu.
The four, all crewmembers of the tugboat Henry, were abducted by the Abu Sayyaf off Tawi-Tawi last April 15.
They are apart from another group of Indonesian tugboat crewmembers kidnapped in March off Tawi-Tawi and released on May 1.
Details of the release of the four Indonesians were unclear but reports said the four were dropped off by unidentified men in front of the house of Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan in Jolo.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the release was due to the efforts of both Philippine and Indonesian authorities.
“We thank the Indonesian government, particularly Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, for the very close coordination since this morning. We thank the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Indonesia for their coordination,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Rene Almendras said in a statement.
He said the coordination was achieved “because of the trilateral meeting in Yogyakarta, Indonesia of the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as the Armed Forces of the three countries to combat these criminal activities.”
AFP spokesman Brig Gen. Restituto Padilla said the four Indonesians were turned by Tan to the Western Mindanao Command at around 2 p.m. yesterday.
The four were brought to Camp Teodulfo Bautista in barangay Busbus, Jolo, Sulu for medical examination prior to their turnover to Indonesian authorities.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/4-indonesian-hostages-freed-abu-sayyaf
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