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Released hostages to go through health screening before returning home
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The three Indonesian sailors, released on Sept. 18 in the city of Zamboanga in the Philippines, will fly to Manila to undergo a medical check up before being flown home to Indonesia on Tuesday. (JP/Haeril Halim)
T
hree Indonesian hostages freed by the Abu Sayyaf militant group will go through health and psychological check-ups prior to returning to Indonesia.
"In accordance with standard procedures, before returning to their respective families, the three men will go through health examinations and post-trauma healing," the Indonesian Embassy in the Philippines stated in a press release on Tuesday.
Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Johny Lumintang was present at the handover of Lorence Koten, 34, Theodoros Kopong , 42 and Emanuel, 40. He has confirmed that the men are in good condition.
The families of the sailors, who reside in Bulukumba, East Nusa Tenggara, have been informed of the release, the statement read.
The three men were freed by the notorious Philippine Islamist group on Sept. 17 after being taken hostage for 75 days. The men were crewmembers of a Malaysian-flagged fishing boat when they were kidnapped by the militants on July 9 in the Lahat Datu waters in Malaysia.
Release efforts were conducted in full cooperation with the Philippine government, the statement further read.
Five Indonesian men remain in captivity. The militant group is notorious for extracting ransom payments in return for the lives of hostages. Through the embassy's statement, the Indonesian government has promised that it will continue to try and secure the release of the remaining hostages with the support of the Philippine government. (rin)
