This photo taken on July 29, 2016 shows Muslim rebels from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) aboard a vehicle gathering at a village as they await orders from their leader Nur Misuari in an effort to help rescue remaining hostages of the extremist Abu Sayyaf group in Kalingalang Caluang town, Sulu province in the southern region of Mindanao. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he wants to meet Misuari to forge peace with Muslim rebels. / AFP PHOTO / STR
ZAMBOANGA CITY – An Indonesian national was freed by his Abu Sayyaf abductors in Sulu on Thursday morning, the military said.
Major Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said Indonesian Herman Bin Manggak was freed to the Moro National Liberation Front at 11 a.m.
Manggak was abducted by armed men off the water of Sandakan, Sabah on August 3.
Tan said the victim was brought to Camp Teodulo Bautista Station Hospital for medical examination and debriefing before a formal turnover to Indonesian authorities at Western Mindanao Command.
But an MNLF official in Sulu said they rescued Manggak on Wednesday afternoon. SFM/rga