Abu Sayyaf frees 2 traders after ransom

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Abu Sayyaf bandits freed two traders they had held captive for one week after ransom was paid yesterday morning in a village in Patikul, Sulu, a military official said.

Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said kidnap victims Ambon Ahamad Blas and Perlita Bagay, both traders of ukay-ukay (used clothes) and residents of Sitio Palar, Barangay Liang, Patikul town, were released at around 6 a.m. yesterday in the village of Latih.

Cabangbang said the victims were seized last Aug. 21 by the Abu Sayyaf group led by Basarun Arok in the same place where they were released.

He said the family of the victims paid P100,000 in exchange for their freedom.

Authorities have yet to recover six kidnap victims, including Indanan town midwife Hadja Evangeline Taverisma, Indian national Biju Kollaraveettil, Malaysian Mohammad Nazaruddin Saiddin, Japanese Toshio Ito, alias Mamaito Katayama, and Renato Panisales and Winnie Ferrer, both crewmembers of a fishing vessel. – With AP