Abu Sayyaf releases trader grabbed from Zamboanga del Sur home

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Abu Sayyaf gunmen freed a young Chinese-Filipino businessman in a coastal area in this city Ton Tuesday night after holding him and his grandfather captive in Sulu for close to two months.

Police reported that kidnap victim Ryan Nuñeza Tan, 21, was released about 6 p.m. on Tuesday near Cawa-Cawa Boulevard, a coastal site a few meters away from regional police office Camp Batalla.

Tan and his 70-year old grandfather Antonio were separated while in captivity in Sulu.

The information about Tan's release only came out Thursday because the family requested privacy citing the elder Tan's safety.

Tan was reunited with his family Wednesday night and escorted home to Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur.

Tan and his grandfather were abducted by six gunmen who posed as police agents at Purok San Francisco, Barangay Maruing, Lapuyan, Zamboanga Del Sur on March 23.

The victims were among six Filipino captives held in the jungle of Sulu along with a Canadian, Norwegian, Dutch and four Malaysians.

The Abu Sayyaf group have given an ultimatum anew for the safety of its three remaining Samal island captives Canadian Robert Hall, his Filipino girlfriend Marites Flor and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad. The families and respective governments of the victims have until June 13 to pay a ransom of P300 million for each of the captives.

The Abu Sayyaf group beheaded Canadian John Ridsdel after an earlier deadline of April 25 lapsed.