Abu Sayyaf frees Tsinoy trader

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A Filipino-Chinese businessman kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf gunmen in March has been freed.

Ryan Nuñeza Tan, 21, was released a few meters away from Camp Cawa-Cawa around 6 p.m. on Tuesday.  He was reunited with his family in Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur on Wednesday night.

Word about Tan’s release came out only yesterday as his family requested for privacy, citing the safety of his 70-year-old grandfather. Antonio Tan was separated from his grandson while in captivity.

The Tans were seized in Purok San Francisco, Barangay Maruing in Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur.

They were among six Filipinos held by Abu Sayyaf bandits in the jungles of Sulu along with Canadian Robert Hall and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, who were taken from a resort on Samal Island, a Dutch birdwatcher and four Malaysians.

Canadian John Ridsdel –who was seized along with Hall, Sekkingstad and Filipina Marites Flor – was beheaded on April 27 after the deadline set for the payment of a P300-million ransom lapsed.

The kidnappers threatened to behead another Samal hostage if their ransom demand is not met. – With Jaime Laude