5 kidnap victims released in Sulu, Zamboanga

MANILA, Philippines - Four people, including two children, taken by armed men in Jolo, Sulu last week were released by their captors on Wednesday afternoon, the military reported Thursday.

Capt. Ryan Lacuesta, 2nd Marine Brigade civil-military operations officer, said the victims identified as Mohammad Zaher, 10; Princess Raiza Karanain, 8; Almalyn Abuhail, 18; and Saddam Amlih were released around 4 pm.

The four were abducted last March 3 by still unknown gunmen at the vicinity of General Areolas Street, Barangay Alat, Jolo town.

Lacuesta said the victims were on their way to school when their vehicle was flagged down by the kidnappers.

Lacuesta said the kidnappers and the victims then fled towards the direction of Anuling village in Patikul town.

He said no ransom were paid for the release of the victims.

Meanwhile, kidnappers also released businesswoman Cecilia Alas-as, beforen dawn Thursday in a remote coastal village in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte.

Police said Alas-as, who is also the barangay chairperson of Barangay Paniran in Sibuco, was released at around 1:30 a.m. in Barangay Malayal.

She was snatched by a group of gunmen from her residence in Barangay Paniran last December 12.

A police source disclosed that the victim’s family, who runs a trucking business, paid an unspecified amount to the kidnappers.

The victim told the police that they walked for five hours before reaching the place where she was released and abandoned by the kidnappers.

The police and the victim’s family recovered Alas-as tired and haggard with visible rashes and insect bites.

The victim was immediately brought in one of the hospitals in this city force medical check-up.