Marines recover Indonesian kidnap victim in Sulu

Troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 3, Philippine Marine Ready Force Sulu under the Joint Task Force Sulu, in coordination with the Sulu Provincial Police Office and intelligence units, were able to recover an Indonesian hostage who was able to escape from his Abu Sayyaf abductors in Sulu on Thursday morning.

The victim was identified as Usman Yusuf, who was able to escape from his abductors at Sitio Tubig Bual, Barangay Bual, Luuk, Sulu at about 7:30 a.m. Thursday, December 6.

The 35-year-old Yusuf was abducted in the waters off Sempornah, Sabah, Malaysia, onboard the Malaysian fishing-trawler vessel last September 11.

Yusuf was immediately brought to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for medical check-up after which he was presented to the Commander of Joint Task Force Sulu.

With the rescue of Usman Yusuf, the number of kidnap victims under the custody of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is now down to six, three of which are foreigners and the rest Filipinos.

“I commend the troops of the Joint Task Force Sulu for their unfaltering conduct of intensified military operations which bear outstanding accomplishments,” said Lieutenant General Arnel B. Dela Vega, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command.

Meanwhile, eight ASG members surrendered to troops of the Second Special Forces Battalion, also under the Joint Task Force Sulu, in Talipao, Sulu on Thursday.

Col. Gerry Besana, the spokesman of the Armed Forces of the PhilippinesWestern Mindanao Command (AFPWestMinCom), said the eight turned themselves in at about 10:30 a.m. (with reports from Bonita L. Ermac and Nonoy E. Lacson)