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10 Indonesian hostages freed in Philippines, say police

ZAMBOANGA (Philippines) — Ten Indonesian sailors abducted by Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants were freed in the southern Philippines on Sunday (May 1) after five weeks in captivity, Philippine police said.

ZAMBOANGA (PHILIPPINES) — Ten ­Indonesian sailors abducted by Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants were freed in the southern Philippines on Sunday (May 1) after five weeks in captivity, said Filipino police.
Unknown men delivered the 10 tugboat crewmen to the home of provincial Governor Abdusakur Tan Junior on the remote island of Jolo during a heavy midday downpour, Jolo police chief Junpikar ­Sitin told AFP by telephone.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo confirmed the news saying, “thanks be to God”, the 10 had been freed and were due to arrive home around midnight on Sunday.

The condition of the released hostages was not immediately known, though Mr Sitin said the group ate lunch at the Governor’s home.

The authorities said Abu Sayyaf was still holding 11 foreigners hostages — four sailors from Indonesia and four others from Malaysia, a Canadian tourist, a Norwegian resort owner and a Dutch bird watcher.

A consular official at Indonesia’s Manila Embassy, who gave his name as Tody, told AFP: “We cannot tell you any detail as of now. It’s confidential.”

The 10 sailors were abducted off the southern Philippines on March 26 as their tugboat pulled a barge from Borneo island to the Philippines. The Filipino authorities later described the kidnappers as members of Abu Sayyaf, a small group of Islamic militants based on Jolo and nearby Basilan island and accused of kidnappings and deadly bombings.

The vessels’ owners received a ransom call from someone claiming to be from the Abu Sayyaf militant group the same day.

However, Mr Sitin said he was unaware that any ransom had been paid. Abu Sayyaf does not normally free hostages unless a ransom is paid.

Abu Sayyaf is believed to have just a few hundred militants but has withstood repeated military ­offensives by using the mountainous, jungle terrain of Jolo and nearby islands. Although its leaders have pledged allegiance to Islamic State, analysts say they are more focused on kidnappings-for-ransom than setting up a caliphate.

The surge of abductions has sparked calls by Indonesia for joint naval patrols with Malaysia and the Philippines. Jakarta announced last week that it plans to host a meeting of foreign ministers and military commanders from the three neighbouring nations to discuss the issue on Thursday. AFP

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