Zamboanga City (CNN Philippines) —Mayor Gemma Adana of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay, arrived at the Majini Pier of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao in Zamboanga City on Wednesday afternoon (October 13) after being released by her captors in Sulu on Tuesday (October 12).
Family members, including Adana’s husband and a daughter, were emotional on seeing the mayor as she got off the Navy vessel.
Adana was brought to the Naval Forces Headquarters where she underwent debriefing.
She was later released to the custody of Zamboanga Sibugay Gov. Wilter Palma who arrived in Zamboanga to fetch the mayor.
In an interview, Palma thanked authorities for Adana’s safe release and said that they would immediately leave for Zamboanga Sibugay to let her rest.
The governor refused to answer questions about the circumstances of the release, saying that Adana should be the one to answer. But the mayor, he said, had requested not to be interviewed for the meantime.
In a short statement, however, Adana said was all right but needed some time to rest.
Authorities said that she was not hurt during her captivity and attributed her limp to an ingrown toenail.
Adana’s husband, Edgard, expressed elation on seeing his wife but added that she had noticeably lost weight during her months in captivity.
Adana was abducted by unidentified men last April 6 right in her house on the coast of Barangay Taytay Manubo at 9:15 p.m.
Three men reportedly barged in and dragged her towards a bote bote – a twin engine speedboat — while three more served as lookout.
