Abu Sayyaf frees 8-year-old captive in Jolo

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Abu Sayyaf militants on Wednesday afternoon released its 8-year-old captive allegedly after the payment of ransom in Sulu province.

The victim, Jewel Mariel Nique, was released at about 2:30 p.m. in the capital town of Jolo, police said.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, public affairs chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines ( AFP), confirmed the release but could not provide more details.

The police reported that Nique was escorted and released by her kidnappers to her family at the Jolo wharf.

A police source pursuing the case disclosed that the release came following payment of ransom. However, the source could not specify how much was paid by the victim's family to the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Nique was abducted by 4 gunmen right from their general merchandise store in Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay last July 25, and brought her to Sulu as among the captives of the Abu Sayyaf group.

Nique's release came almost two weeks after the Abu Sayyaf group  freed German couple Dr. Stefan Viktor Okonek and Henrike Dielen allegedly after the payment of P250-million in ransom.

Cabunoc said government forces remain relentlessbin efforts to recover the remaining hostages of the Abu Sayyaf.

It reported earlier that about 14 captives were still being separately held captive by several sub-units of the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu and Basilan.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang flew to Jolo Thursday morning reportedly to assess the on going campaign against the Abu Sayyaf which has not yet made any engagement since the release of the German couple.