Korean, Filipino sailors released from captivity in Sulu

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 14): Korean, Filipino sailors released from captivity in Sulu

Two sailors, including a foreigner, were released on Saturday by the Abu Sayyaf bandits in the hinterlands of Sulu, the military announced Saturday.

Maj. Filemon Tan, Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman, identified the freed hostages as South Korean Park Chulhong, the skipper of the Korean-flagged heavy load carrier M/V Dongbang Giant 2; and, Glenn Alindajao, a Filipino seafarer.

Tan said Chulhong and Alindajao “were released from captivity this (Saturday) morning in Sulu.”

They were released two months and 25 days after they were seized in the waters off Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi.

Tan said they have received report that the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) based in Barangay Kagay, Indanan town helped facilitated the release of the kidnap victims.

He said that Chulhong and Alindajao, after they were released, were taken to the residence of Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, II in Barangay Asturias, Jolo, Sulu.

He said Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Jesus Dureza flew in to Jolo and proceeded to Tan’s residence to fetch the newly-released hostages.

Dureza together with Chulhong and Alindajao departed Jolo airport around 11:15 a.m. bound for Davao City.

M/V Dongbang Giant 2 was travelling to Australia passing through the waters of Sibutu island town in Tawi-Tawi when Abu Sayyaf bandits, aboard a speedboat, accosted the heavy load carrier.

The Abu Sayyaf bandits boarded the ship and seized Chulhong and Alindajao and brought them to the hinterlands of Sulu province.

The bandits spared the other crewmen of M/V Dongbang Giant 2.

The release of Chulhong and Alindajao has brought the number of hostages to 25 that are still in Abu Sayyaf captivity.

They included the following: a Dutch; a German; four Indonesians; five Malaysians; six Vietnamese; and, eight Filipinos.

Government troops are continuously tracking the Abu Sayyaf bandits in a bid to rescue the remaining hostages.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=955207