Three more Indonesian nationals held captive by Abu Sayyaf bandits walked free in Sulu on Sunday through the help of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza confirmed.
Dureza said MNLF chairman Nur Misuari informed him over the phone that the hostages have been turned over to Sulu Governor Absusakur “Totoh” Tan II before noon today.
“Nakausap ko rin si [I have also talked to] Governor Totoh a while ago and he will be turning the three over to the military’s Task Force Sulu, kina [to] General [Arnel] Dela Vega,” Dureza told radio DZMM.
He added that he was not aware of ransom money being paid for the release of the foreigners, but declined to give further details.
The Indonesians, who appeared to be unharmed, will be transferred to Zamboanga for an interview with the military, medical check-ups and de-briefing, Dureza said. After this, they will be immediately flown to Jakarta.
The freed captives were identified by Tan as Edi Suryono, Ferry Arifin, and Muhamad Mabrur Dahri.
The Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of militants formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network that has earned millions of dollars from kidnappings-for-ransom.
Although its leaders have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, analysts say they are mainly focused on lucrative kidnappings.
Last September, the MNLF also helped negotiate the release of four Abu Sayyaf captives, including Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad and three Indonesians. ABS-CBN News
