Abu Sayyaf frees abducted town mayor

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Abu Sayyaf bandits released Tuesday morning a town mayor after six months of captivity in the village of Indanan town, Sulu, according to authorities.

Police and military officials said that they had no knowledge whether a ransom was paid for the release of Mayor Gemma Adana of Naga town, Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Based on reports, the Abu Sayyaf bandits released and abandoned Adana about 6 a.m. in a secluded barangay of Indanan town where civilians and local officials safely recovered her.

Capt. Antonio Bulao, information officer of Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS), said the local official of Indanan town brought the victim to the house of Sulu Vice Gov. Abdusakur Tan in Barangay Asturias, Jolo, Sulu.

The military said the victim was exhausted and appeared to have lost weight.

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) believed the Abu Sayyaf group was pressured to release the victim due to relentless operation. But they received a report that the bandits demanded P15 million ransom for Adana’s release.

Navy Captain Roy Vincent Trinidad, deputy commander of the Joint Task Force Zambasulta, said Adana was turned over to the 501st Infantry Brigade and eventually brought to the trauma hospital in Camp Teodulfo Bautista for medical check-up and debriefing.

Adana was scheduled to be transferred to this city where she will be reunited with her family.

According to Trinidad, the victim declined media interviews, requesting for privacy.

Unidentified masked men armed with automatic rifles abducted Adana last April 7 from her residence in Barangay Taytay Manubo, Naga town, Zamboanga Sibugay.