Another Indonesian captive flees Abu Sayyaf in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Another Indonesian sailor held captive by the Abu Sayyaf was found Wednesday afternoon by troops in a coastal area of Luuk town, Sulu.

The kidnap victim was identified as Ismael, a chief officer of a tugboat, according to Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

Tan said the soldiers from the Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS) were scouring the coastal mangrove area of Barangay Bual, where the first Indonesian captive Mohammad Sofyan was found by local residents earlier Wednesday morning when they spotted Ismael about 4:30p.m. on the same day.

“Ismael identified himself to the military troops conducting the search,” Tan said.

According to Tan, Ismael and Sofyan escaped Wednesday from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf group.

“However, they separated ways after the Abu Sayyaf group chased them,” the military official said.

Soffyan was rescued ahead by local residents along the shoreline of Barangay Bual in Luuk, Sulu.

Ismael was brought to the headquarters of the JTFS for medical check-up and will be turned over to the Indonesian authorities as soon as possible, Tan said.

Ismael, chief officer of TB Charles 001 and Sofyan were among the seven Indonesian sailors abducted last June 23 by the Abu Sayyaf group under Alhabsy Misaya at the high seas of Tawi-Tawi near the Malaysian border while en route to Indonesia.

The five other Indonesians still being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf bandits include Captain Feri Arifin, chief engineer Muhammad Mahbrur Dahri, assistant engineer Edy Suryono, Robin Peter and Muhammad Nasir.

The Abu Sayyaf group demanded 20 million Indonesian Ringgit as ransom for the release of the hostages.