Abus free Malaysian hostage in Jolo

MANILA, Philippines - The Abu Sayyaf has released a Malaysian woman they had been holding for nearly six months, authorities said yesterday.

This developed as government security forces reported thwarting a kidnapping attempt by the group with the arrest of seven bandits in Agusan del Sur yesterday.

Thien Nyuk Fun and a Malaysian man were abducted in May from a restaurant in Sabah, with investigators blaming the Abu Sayyaf group.

Police said restaurant manager Thien, 50, was set free in Jolo on Sunday.

But the man captured at the same time was not released.

“I wish to thank all of them (authorities) for working hard to bring Thien home,” Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman said in a statement carried by the official Bernama news agency, confirming her release.

The Philippine National Police gave no other details, including who the abductors were or why Thien was released.

Sources said Thien was released after paying P30 million ransom, negotiated through two Malaysian security personnel and a local emissary in Sulu.

The source said Thien was released by the Abu Sayyaf led by Alhabsy Misaya, Alden Bagade and Angah Adji in a remote village in Mt. Taran in Indanan town.

Thien’s freedom followed months of negotiations and coordinated effort by authorities at many levels, Bernama quoted the Sabah official as saying.

Thien was immediately escorted back to Sabah on a speedboat that arrived yesterday.      

The group is currently holding two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipina seized in the southern Philippines in September, as well as a Dutch bird watcher abducted in the same region in 2012.

They are also widely believed to be holding an Italian pizza restaurant owner abducted in October.

A 74-year-old South Korean who was kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in January, was found dead earlier this month in Jolo after he apparently succumbed to illness while in the extremists’ hands.

Foiled attempt

In Agusan, sources said the military was tipped off by an informant on the plans by the bandits led by Maummar Askali to kidnap an Australian and his family.

This led to the arrest of the seven suspects in a joint military and police operation at Purok 4, Barangay Nuevo Trabajo, San Luis town.

Inspector Joebert Agpaoa, San Luis police chief, identified the suspects as Nulludin Astropher, Ricardo Asong, Nuluddin Hadjula, Alvin Ammad, Rolly Delgado Sulapas, Marcela Musa Nuluddin and Kennedy Castro Calderon.

Askali, however, eluded arrest after he left the safe house the night before the raid.