Philippines’ Abu Sayyaf Militants Free 10 Indonesian Hostages

10 Indonesians sit outside the residence of Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan II on Sunday noon. Photo credit to Sulu Governor Absusakur “Totoh” Tan II

Manila, 22 Rajab 1437/02 May 2016 (MINA) — Ten Indonesian tugboat crewmen held by the Abu Sayyaf terror gang in the southern Philippines were freed unharmed Sunday after the kidnappers came under intensifying military pressure following the killing of a Canadian hostage last week, the provincial governor said.

Governor Abdusakur Tan II of the southern province of Sulu said the 10 Indonesians, including their captain, were dropped off near his residence Sunday morning following 35 days in captivity after Abu Sayyaf militants seized their vessel, wsj.com was quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“They were drenched because it was raining hard at the time,’’ Mr. Tan said. “I first gave them towels because they haven’t showered for the past 35 days.”

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The Indonesians said their captors hadn’t harmed them and believed that they had been released because of stepped-up pressure being applied by the Philippine military, Mr. Tan said.

“They told me they could hear gunfire and explosions, a sign the military operations are close to where they were held,” Mr. Tan said.

At a press briefing Sunday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo thanked the Philippine government and said that Jakarta would continue working for the release of four other Indonesian mariners seized in a separate incident.

Abu Sayyaf, an extremist group that claims ties to Islamic State, has defied decades of attempts by the U.S.-backed Philippine military to eradicate it. The group claims to be fighting for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate across the Muslim regions of Southeast Asia.
The military increased operations in the southern Philippines after Abu Sayyaf killed John Ridsdel, a Canadian former mining executive who was abducted last year with another Canadian, a Norwegian and a Filipina at the resort island of Samal in the southern Philippines. These three are still being held.

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After Mr. Ridsdel was beheaded last week, Mr. Widodo called for a meeting between security officials of Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia to launch joint maritime patrols to stop a surge in piracy and kidnappings.

In early April, 18 soldiers were killed and 52 were injured in an ill-fated attempt to kill or capture Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the deaths, but the military dismissed that as propaganda and said there was no direct link between the two organizations. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)