By Francis Wakefield
An Indonesian, who had been held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) for four months, was rescued in Sulu on Tuesday, the military Wednesday disclosed.
Juragan Kapal Samsul Saguni
(Western Mindanao Command / MANILA BULLETIN)
Indonesian hostage Juragan Kapal Samsul Saguni was rescued through the efforts of former Sulu Governor Abdul Sakur Tan and soldiers of the Army's 41st Infantry Battalion, Fifth Infantry Division and the 11th Infantry Division.
Saguni was brought to the residence of Tan in Poblacion, Maimbung, Sulu at 4:30.p.m. Tuesday.
On September 11, 2018, Abu Sayyaf militants kidnapped Saguni and Usman Yunos, who were aboard a Malaysian fishing/trawler vessel, in waters off Semporna, Sabah.
Yunos, 35, was rescued by troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 3, Philippine Marine Ready Force Sulu and the Sulu Provincial Police Office on December 6, 2018.
Soldiers of the Joint Task Force Sulu facilitated the custodial debriefing of Saguni at the Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu headquarters in Barangay Bus-bus, Jolo, Sulu.
The victim underwent a medical check-up at Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Hospital in Barangay Bus-bus.
According to JTF Sulu Commander Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo, Jr., the medical results showed that the victim was healthy.
Saguni was then brought to the headquarters of the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) on Wednesday where he was debriefed and underwent medical check-up.
Pabayo said the Abu Sayyaf was still holding five foreigners and three Filipinos as hostages in the hinterlands of Sulu.
Western Mindanao Command Chief Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, said JTF Sulu remains committed in rescuing captives of the Abu Sayyaf and in ending the terrorist group’s kidnap and ransom ploys.
He said this will be done through the consistent conduct of counter operations against the militants and through the strengthened cooperation with the local government and the people of Sulu to encourage the capitulations of the rest of the Abu Sayyaf militants.