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Three more Indonesian hostages released by Abu Sayyaf
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Activists from Alliance of Patriotic Community protest in front of the Philippines Embassy in Jakarta on Aug. 1. They demanded that the government boost efforts to secure the release of Indonesian sailors taken hostage by Philippine militant group Abu Sayyaf. (Tempo/Imam Sukamto)
T
hree more Indonesian sailors held captive by Abu Sayyaf militants were released on Saturday evening, leaving two remaining in captivity, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said on Sunday.
The three crewmen released at 11:35 p.m. local time were Ferry Arifin, M. Mahbur Dahlan and Edi Suryono
"A special team picked them up. The three are at the Sulu Joint Task Force West Mincom, where they are undergoing health checkups, “Retno said in a press conference with Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo at the Defense Ministry in Jakarta as reported by Antara news agency.
The three men will be taken to Zamboanga to be officially handed over to the Indonesian government, represented by the Indonesian Embassy in Manila, she said.
The government will provide an update on their return as soon as matters in Zamboanga are taken care of, Retno said, adding that the ministry had also contacted the respective families of the sailors on the release.
With the release of the three men, crew members of tugboat Charles that were taken hostage by the militants on June 21, two Indonesian crewmen remain in the hands of Abu Sayyaf. The two men are Robin Peter and M. Nasir, who are also crew members of tugboat Charles.
Details of the release have not been made public.
Retno said the government had stepped up efforts to secure the release of the two remaining crewmen. (rin)
