Abu Sayyaf releases engineer abducted in February

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The Abu Sayyaf group freed another kidnap victim in Patikul, Sulu on Monday morning, barely a week after two captive female cops in Sulu were released.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said the kidnap victim, engineer Enrico Nee, was freed about 8 a.m. at Barangay Latih, Patikul town by his Abu Sayyaf captors.

He said residents immediately reported Nee's presence to the district engineer’s office of the Department of Public Works and Highway in Jolo town.

"The kidnap victim was left (by his Abu Sayyaf captors) in the said place as he has health problems," Sobejana said.

The district engineers' office immediately dispatched a vehicle to fetch the victim and bring him to the DPWH office. He was later brought to Joint Task Force Sulu for a medical checkup and debriefing.

Nee, an employee of DPWH District 1, was abducted in Kasalamatan Village, Barangay San Raymundo, Jolo on Ferbuary 14. He was on his way to the office when he was taken by seven unidentified gunmen.

It is unclear whether ransom was paid for Nee's freedom but the Philippine government has a standing policy against it.

The Abu Sayyaf group freed two male companions of two captive policewomen on May 5, reportedly after payment of P2.5 million in ransom. The two police officers were released on May 15 

The release of the five victims this month and on Monday has brought down the number of Abu Sayyaf captives to nine — a Dutch national, a Vietnamese, three Indonesians and four Filipinos.