Sayyaf frees Zamboanga trader

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines –  Abu Sayyaf bandits yesterday freed in Sulu a businesswoman they kidnapped last August.

 Col. Alan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS), said Michelle Panes was released at around 9 a.m. in a village in Talipao.

Arrojado said a villager who saw Panes walking barefoot escorted the victim to the JIGS headquarters.

There was no immediate report if ransom was involved in the release of  Panes, whose captors had demanded P3 million.

Panes, 36, and her husband Joel, 34, were kidnapped in the coastal village of Labuan on Aug. 18.  Joel escaped when he fought the kidnappers.

The military said Panes, who looked haggard and lost weight, is in good condition.  She underwent medical checkup before she was brought here.

Panes also underwent post-traumatic stress debriefing to source information that could identify her captors for the filing of kidnapping charges against them.