Sayyaf men free Tawi-Tawi trader

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels have freed a Chinese-Filipino businessman whom they had held captive in an island-village in Tawi-Tawi for more than two months, the military said.

Col. Alexander Aleo, Army commander in Sulu, said 24-year-old Alvin Chua, owner of the Aqua-Marine Shop in Bongao town, was released last Dec. 12, but the military learned about it only early this week when an uncle of Chua told them about it.

Aleo could not say if ransom was paid.

Five ski mask-wearing men seized Chua from his Bongao shop last Oct. 20. – Roel Pareño