Malaysia to turnover to PH rescued Filipina

MANILA, Philippines—Malaysia is set to turn over to the Philippines the Filipina worker who had been rescued from her abductors Friday.

“Malaysian authorities may turnover today or early tomorrow  to the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur Mercy Dayawan, the Filipina kidnap victim from Semporna who was rescued yesterday along with the Chinese victim,” Foreign Affairs Spokesman Charles Jose said Saturday.

The Malaysian police attaché handling the case would escort her back to the Philippines, Jose said in a statement.

Dayawan, 40, along with Chinese tourist Gao Huayun, was seized from the Singamata Reef Resort in Sabah state on Borneo island on April 2 in a late-night raid by gunmen and taken to the southern Philippines.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Friday the women were brought back to Malaysia after being rescued, stressing that no ransom had been paid to secure their release.

“Success due to cooperation of Malaysia and Philippines security forces,” Najib said on Twitter late Friday, adding Malaysia would help Gao, 29, return home “as soon as possible”.

Sabah’s eastern coast — known for its pristine beaches and dive sites popular with tourists — has seen a string of violence, including an armed assault last year by the 途oyal army・ of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, whose bid to reclaim Sabah led to clashes that killed at least 62 people.

The Philippine military has said Abu Sayyaf, a small band of Islamic extremists infamous for kidnappings for ransom, are prime suspects in the kidnapping of Gao and Dayawan.

Suspected Abu Sayyaf members are believed to still be holding several foreign and local hostages in the jungles of Mindanao including two European bird-watchers seized in February 2012.

Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for the kidnapping of 21 people, including several foreign tourists, from another Sabah diving resort in 2000.

Twenty of those hostages were released within five months, reportedly after hefty ransoms were paid. A Filipino captive was held until 2003. With Agence France-Presse

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