The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced Tuesday night, March 23, that it has turned over to the Indonesian government the four fishermen who have been rescued from their Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) kidnappers.
Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, AFP Chief of Staff, led the turnover of Riswanto Bin Hayono, 26; Arical Kastamiran, 30; Arsyad Bin Dahalan, 41; and Mohd Khairuldin, 15; to the Indonesian Embassy led by Charge d'Affairs Widya Rahmanto, Indonesian Defense Attaché Col. Reza Suud, and Indonesian Army Attaché Col. Sigit Himawan.
The ceremony was held at the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City and was attended by Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Philippine National Police (PNP) Officer in Charge.
"The kidnap victims have been held captive by the Abu Sayyaf Group for more than a year. Through the AFP's relentless efforts, the ASG, who were based in Sulu, were driven out of their comfort zones and mass base which eventually led to the successful rescue operation last week in Tawi-Tawi," Sobejana said.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom), said elements of Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi shot dead alias "Long" and "Darus," the two remaining ASG bandits being tracked down by the military in Languyan, Tawi-Tawi.
Vinluan said the troops were conducting hot pursuit against the escaped ASG bandits when they chanced upon the armed men in Barangay Kalupag Island on Tuesday afternoon.
"While we were moving towards their location, they open fire so we retaliated. A short encounter ensued which resulted in the instantaneous death of the two Abu Sayyaf/Kidnap-for-Ransom Group members know their aliases Long and Darus," said Col. Nestor Narag Jr., deputy commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade.
Hayono, Kastamiran, and Dahalan were rescued by the police after the motor boat they were riding with their five ASG kidnappers capsized while the group was escaping towards South Ubian, Tawi-Tawi on March 18.
Two ASG kidnappers, Sahud Salisim alias Ben Wagas and Bensal Jakare alias Enjemar Mankabong, were rescued and later arrested by the authorities on the same day.
On the other hand, Khairuldin was rescued by elements of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi on March 21 in Kalupag Island, Languyan, Tawi-Tawi where he was brought by ASG leader Majan Sahidjuan alias Apo Mike, Long, and Darus after the sea mishap.
Sahidjuan died due to massive blood loss after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds in an armed encounter with the pursuing troops.
During the turnover ceremony, Charge d'Affairs Rahmanto extended his appreciation to the Philippine government and all other agencies involved in the rescue of the kidnap victims.
"On behalf of the Government of Indonesia, we are forever grateful for the support and immediate actions to save the victims," Rahmanto said.
On January 17, 2020, Abu Sayyaf terrorists led by sub-leaders Salisim, Sahidjuan, and Injam Yadah abducted eight Indonesian fishermen off the waters of Tambisan in Sabah, Malaysia.
The victims were brought to Patikul, Sulu where they had to endure 13 encounters between government troops and their captors as part of rescue efforts.
Three of the victims were initially freed by the Abu Sayyaf bandits.
Meanwhile, another victim, Daeng Akbal Labaa, died allegedly due to heart attack during an arm encounter on September 28, 2020 -- leaving only Hayono, Kastamiran, Dahalan, and Khairuldin in the ASG's captivity.
Labaa's body was recovered by the operating troops and turned over to the Indonesian government last year.