Indonesian hostage of Abu Sayyaf released
The terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu, the Philippines has released an Indonesian fisherman abducted last month.
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The military's Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) spokesperson Maj. Filemon Tan said Herman Bin Manggak was released to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), a Muslim force that signed the peace treaty with the Philippine Government in 1996.
He was handed over to military officials of Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS) at 11 am on September 22.
Previously on September 17, the group freed three Indonesian fishermen they took hostage in Lahad Datu, Sabah in July.
A few hours before the release of the three Indonesian fishermen, the Abu Sayyaf bandits also freed Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, who was kidnapped almost a year ago in Davao del Norte province in the southern Philippines.
The Abu Sayyaf executed two Canadian men who were kidnapped along with Sekkingstad.
The Group, established in the 1990s, has around 400 gunmen operating in the south of the Philippines.
The military said they are holding about 20 Philippine and foreign hostages.
