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FM assigns officials to help escaped Indonesian abductee
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Indonesian Muhammad Safyan (right) is examined by physician Raden Ikbala after he escaped his Abu Sayyaf captors on Wednesday. Safyan fled when he was taken by the bandits to a mangrove area in Luuk, Sulu, where his captors reportedly threatened to behead him.
(Inquirer.net/Julie Alipala )
T
he Foreign Ministry has assigned a team from Indonesian representatives offices in the Philippines to assist an Indonesian seaman who escaped Abu Sayyaf captivity , Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said on Wednesday.
An Indonesian crew member named Muhammad Sofyan escaped captivity of the notorious bandit group in Sulu on Wednesday, Retno confirmed.
"He escaped when he was taken by his abductors to a mangrove area in Luuk in the province of Sulu, " Retno told journalists on the sidelines of the 71st Independence Day ceremony at the State Palace.
The ministry has assigned a team from the Indonesian Embassy in Manila and the Indonesian Consulate in Davao to go to Zamboangan city to arrange the repatriation of Sofyan as well as check his condition.
Retno is also coordinating with her Philippine counterpart to get further information on Sofyan and the other Indonesians held captive by Abu Sayyaf.
"We will continue the communication and are striving to gain the immediately release of [other] brothers unharmed. Hopefully, positive steps can be taken," Retno said.
Sofyan was among the seven Indonesian crew members of the Charles vessel who were kidnapped by the militant group on June 23. He escaped his kidnappers after being told that the militants would behead him if a ransom demand was not met. Local people of Barangay Bual shore found him on Wednesday morning, according to media reports. (rin)
Liza Yosephine contributed to this story.
