ZAMBOANGA CITY — The military’s Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) has formally turned over to Indonesian authorities the three Indons freed by Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu.
The captives who freed on Saturday in Barangay Buanza, Indanan, Sulu after over a year captivity were Hamdam Bin Salim, 34; Subande Satto, 27; and, Sudarlan Samansung, 41.
Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, Westmincom chief, turned them over to Dr. Sinyo Harry Sarundajang, the Indonesian ambassador to the Philippines, around 1:36 p.m. Sunday at Camp Basilio Navarro that houses the Westmincom headquarters in this city.
The three, accompanied by Sarundajang and the Indonesian Army Attache, left for Manila later in the afternoon on Sunday.
Sarundajang expressed his gratitude to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) through the Westmincom for the efforts exerted that resulted in the safe release of the hostages.
“We give our assurance that we will always be of assistance for the common interest of our country and the Indonesian government,” Dela Vega said.
Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Westmincom information officer, said the three Indonesians were freed due to mounting pressures by the continuous military offensive and efforts exerted by local government officials in Sulu.
He said the freed hostages were immediately taken to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for medical check-up and custodial debriefing.
He said the release of the three Indonesians was also made possible through the joint efforts of former Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan; Tarhata Misuari, wife of Moro National Liberation Front founding chair, Nuruladji; and, Abdul Kiram Misuari.
The three Indonesians were seized by the Abu Sayyaf bandits on January 18, 2017 while the victims were aboard a fishing vessel near Taganak Island, Tawi-Tawi.
Taganak, which is part of Turtle Islands municipality in Tawi-Tawi, is located at the very edge of the international treaty limits separating the Philippines from Malaysia.
Besana disclosed that the Abu Sayyaf bandits are still holding captives 11 people in the hinterlands of Sulu province.
He said the hostages included two foreigners — one Dutch and a Vietnamese — and nine Filipinos. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
