Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 20) — After more than a year in captivity, four Indonesian hostages of the Abu Sayyaf walked free after being rescued by security forces in Sulu. Several members of the bandit group were also captured.
In a statement, Joint Task Force Sulu said the gunmen tried to evade military operations in Sulu Friday night, but their boat capsized near Pasigan Island in Tawi-Tawi.
Three were initially rescued: Riswanto Bin Hayono, Arical Kastamiran, and Arsyad Bin Dahalan. They were among five abducted by the ASG in Tambisan, Malaysia on January 17, 2020.
One man was killed by the bandits in September as he tried to escape during an encounter between the Abu Sayyaf and government forces in Patikul, while the other remains unaccounted for.
Among those captured were ASG sub-leaders Sahud Salasim (Ben Wagas) and Injimar Mangkabong (Bensal Jakare).
Salasim, who is a core member of the group, transferred to Sulu when his group in Basilan disbanded. Mangkabongwho is from Patikul, Suluwas previously under the group of notorious Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron.
Another hostage, 15-year-old Khairuldin bin Yai Kii, was rescued in Kalupag Island, Languyan on Sunday, according to the Western Mindanao Command.
