JAKARTA – Three Indonesians who were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf in Sabah in January last year and rescued by Filipino forces on Thursday are reported to be in good health.
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, said the trio, from Kabupaten Wakatobi in southeast Sulawesi, are in the process of being sent home.
“The rescue operation was carried out on Thursday evening in Tawi-Tawi when the boat used by the militant group, with the three victims on board, capsized in rough seas.
“They (hostages) were being transferred from Indanan in Sulu to another place after the group heard about an integrated operation by Filipino security forces.
“The three were rescued before being brought to Zamboanga, and will be flown to Manila for processing before returning to Indonesia.”
On January 16 last year, five Indonesians working on a Malaysian fishing vessel were kidnapped off Tambisan, Sabah.
The three rescued were identified as Arizal Kasta Miran, 30, Arsad Dahlan, 41, and Andi Riswanto Hayano, 26.
Abductee La Baa, 32, was found dead on September 28 in Patikul, Sulu, while the fate of the fifth hostage, who is only 12 years old, remains unknown. – Bernama, March 21, 2021
