2 Abu Sayyaf hostages rescued, 4 captors arrested

ZAMBOANGA CITY  , Philippines  —   Two Filipinos kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf bandits were rescued in Sulu on Thursday.

Jose Duterte, 63, was rescued by personnel of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 in Barangay Kandayok, Panamao town at about 1:30 p.m., according to the Sulu police.

Marines and Navy intelligence units launched the operation after they tracked the location of the group that was holding Duterte.

Police said the bandits abandoned Duterte when they sensed the arrival of government troopers.

Duterte and his wife Jessica, 52, were snatched in Barangay Sta. Maria, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte on March 3, 2017. They were held by the group of Almujer Yadda.

The bandits released Jessica on Oct. 31, 2017 in Basilan to secure the ransom for her husband’s freedom. 

Radzmalyn Astah, 7, was rescued in Barangay Walled City in Jolo at about 2:45 p.m.

Four of Astah’s kidnappers, whose identities were not immediately available, were arrested. They are undergoing tactical interrogation to determine the whereabouts of their cohorts and the other hostages.

Personnel of the Regional Intelligence Unit, Anti-Kidnap Group, 52nd and 84th Special Action Companies and Sulu police conducted the operation after receiving reports that ransom would be paid in exchange for Astah’s release.

Astah was kidnapped by at least seven men who pretended to buy gasoline at the store owned by her parents in Sitio Palau Pinang, Barangay Himba in Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi on June 25.

Astah’s mother and one of the gunmen were wounded in a shootout after her father pulled out his caliber .45 pistol when he noticed that the suspects were acting suspiciously. 

A Dutch man, a Vietnamese and six Filipinos remain in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf.