BREAKING: Abu Sayyaf's last Indonesian hostage rescued in Sulu
Published on: Wednesday, January 15, 2020
By: Zam Yusa
Muhammad Farhan being transported in a vehicle after his rescue in Sulu, southern Philippines on Jan 15, 2020 (Photo: Daily Express via Westmincom).
Kota Kinabalu: The last remaining Indonesian fisherman kidnapped off Lahad Datu waters last year and held by the Abu Sayyaf was rescued by the Philippine military in Sulu, southern Philippines on Wednesday.
Muhammed Farhan, 27, was rescued at 6.45pm at Barangay (village) Bato-Bato, Indanan municipality, said the Philippine military's Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman, Major Arvin Encinas.
ADVERTISEMENT "Intensive combat and intelligence operations launched by the military led to the rescue," Encinas said in an update to Daily Express.
"Troops on the ground received information from locals of Farhan’s whereabouts which led to the rescue."
Muhammad was then brought to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, Sulu, for medical examination before he was airlifted to Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City for further medical attention and custodial debriefing.
“We are very pleased with this remarkable accomplishment of our Joint Task Force Sulu,” said Westmincom commander Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana in the update.
ADVERTISEMENT “Our ground troops have succeeded in rescuing all remaining captives of the Abu Sayyaf Group.
“This proves that our sustained rescue efforts and security operations to run down and degrade the Abu Sayyaf have been very effective.
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“Hence, this breakthrough will be sustained to thwart kidnappings, dismantle the terror group to bring about peace and sustainable development in Sulu.”
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Muhammad’s compatriots, Maharudin Lunani, 48, and Samiun Maneu, 26, were rescued at Barangay Pugad, Old Panamao, Sulu on Dec 22 last year.
The three were kidnapped from their boat while catching prawns near Tambisan Island in the last kidnapping case in eastern Sabah last September.