Abu Sayyaf releases abducted Chinese

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A Chinese fish farm manager abducted from Sabah by suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen has been freed Thursday in Sulu province, a police official confirmed Friday.

Senior Superintendent Abraham Orbita, Sulu Provincial Police director, said Yang Zai Lin was released in an undisclosed area in the province following weeks of negotiation. The victim was immediately escorted by an emissary back to Sandakan.

Sabah’s Police Inspector General Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar was also quoted Thursday by Malaysian-based dailies on the release of Lin, 34, manager of the Wonderful Terrace Fish Farm based in Pulau Baik, Lahad Datu. 

“The Malaysian authorities have coordinated us about the release of the victim,” Orbita said.

However, the police official said there was no detail as to how the victim regained his freedom.

“Apparently it was a third party that initiated the effort,” Orbita said.

Yang was forcibly taken by six gunmen from his fish farm last May 6 and slipped him to Sulu where he was held for two months.

The former Chinese captive was even sighted by a local kidnap victim Remegio Lingayan who managed to contact his wife recently. 

The military earlier confirmed about 10 hostages, including six foreigners, are being held captive separately by different factions of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

Brig. Gen. Martin Pinto, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade based in Sulu, said pursuit operations continued to recover all captives and neutralize the militant group to stop the kidnapping incidents.

Pinto declined to elaborate details of their operation but assures that the safety of the hostages remained their paramount consideration.