Indons’ captors flee after clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Marines clashed with an Abu Sayyaf group believed holding three Indonesian tugboat crewmen hostage off Pandami Island in Sulu early this week, the military said.

But Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo, head of Task Force Comet, an anti-terror unit running after the Abu Sayyaf, said the soldiers failed to catch up with the extremists who fled back with their captives to Tawi-Tawi.

Last Wednesday, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked President Arroyo to rescue the three Indonesians who were snatched near Mataking Island in Palau, Sabah last March 30.

The kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom of 7.5 billion rupiah ($790,000) from the captives’ employer. — Roel Pareño