Abu Sayyaf Releases Two Indonesian Hostages
Jakarta. Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi confirmed two Indonesian hostages have been released by the Abu Sayyaf terror group in Southern Philippines on Monday (12/12).
“On Dec. 12, the government managed to release two Indonesian crew from the tugboat Charles from Abu Sayyaf group in Southern Philippines. The two released crew members are Robin Piter from Samarinda [in East Kalimantan] and Muhammad Sofyan from South Sulawesi,” Retno said in a statement.
Both men were among the seven crew members of tugboat Charles 001, who were abducted in separate attacks in June by Abu Sayyaf rebels, a group linked to Al-Qaeda and known for kidnappings and beheadings in the waters off the Philippine.
Five other hostages had been released earlier by the group on Aug. 7 and June 1: Muhammad Sofyan, Ismail, Edi Suryo, Muhammad Mahbrur Dahri and Ferry Arifin.
Philippines’ Western Mindanao Command, or Wesmincom, is scheduled to transfer the two released hostages to the Indonesian Ambassador to Philippines in Zamboaga on Tuesday.
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