Snatched Chinese freed

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A Chinese fish farm manager, abducted from Sabah by suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen, was freed Thursday in Sulu, a police official confirmed yesterday.

Sulu Provincial Police director Senior Superintendent Abraham Orbita said Yang Zai Lin was released in an undisclosed area in the province following weeks of negotiations and was immediately escorted by an emissary back to Sandakan, Malaysia.

Sabah’s Police Inspector General Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar was also quoted Thursday by Malaysian media confirming the release of Lin, 34, manager of the Wonderful Terrace Fish Farm based in Pulau Baik, Lahad Datu.

“The Malaysian authorities have coordinated with us on the release of the victim,” Orbita said.

However, there were no details as to how the victim regained his freedom.

“Apparently it was a third party that initiated the effort,” Orbita said.

Yang was forcibly taken by six gunmen from his fish farm last May 6 and brought to Sulu where he was held for two months.

The former Chinese captive was even sighted by a local kidnap victim Remegio Lingayan who managed to contact his wife recently.

The military earlier confirmed that around 10 hostages, including six foreigners, were being held captive separately by different factions of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

Brig. Gen. Martin Pinto, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade based in Sulu, said pursuit operations are continuing to recover all hostages and neutralize the bandit group.

Pinto declined to elaborate but said the safety of the hostages remained their primary consideration.