Freed Fil-Algerian sisters reunited with brother in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The kidnapped Filipino-Algerian sisters who have been released from the Abu Sayyaf Group's captivity were finally reunited with their brother on Friday, a day after they were recovered in a remote village in Patikul town, Sulu province.

Independent filmmakers and sisters Nadjoua and Linda Bansil met with their brother Mohammed Bansil as they arrived at the naval base on board a fast craft from Sulu.

“Alhamdulilah (thanks God) we're safe now,” Mohammed quoted her two sisters as saying.

Nadjoua was also reunited with her pet cat that she named "Juanita," which she asked her brother to bring for their meeting.

“The request of Nadjoua was to see her pet cat Juanita after they were freed,” Mohammed said.

The Marines recovered the sisters in sitio Kantatang, Barangay Buhanginan at around 5 p.m. Thursday. It was not clear if the sisters escaped or were released by the bandits.

The Bansil sisters were shooting a documentary titled “Café Armalite” when they were taken by the Abu Sayyaf bandits on June 22, 2013, in Barangay Liang in Patikul. The bandit group that held the sisters for eight months was led by Aljini Mundoc alias Ninok Sapari.

The sisters initially declined to face the media, but they later agreed to come out with their brother.

Mohammed had requested that her sisters be spared by the media from any interviews to allow them to rest.

At the press conference, Mohammed said that he was not aware if ransom money was paid to the kidnappers for the release of his sisters.

“In terms of that what I know, nag-patrol ang armed forces natin and siguro nabulabog ang grupo so doon na lang sila nakuha,” Mohammed told the media.

Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, commander of the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command, is convinced that the victims’ liberty as a result of the joint efforts of the local government and the Marines in the area.

Guerrero denied reports that P50-million ransom had been paid for the release of the sister as early as July last year.

He said that days before the recovery of the sisters, the bandits holding them were monitored to be frequenting Sitio Kantatang.

“So ‘yon yong inabangan namin for the past several weeks and that was realized yesterday,” the regional military commander said.

“So kung ano pa man ang iniisip about ransom we cannot answer that, but suffice it to say they were recovered in a safe and secured manner,” Guerrero added.