Two Malaysian seafarers were rescued from the hands of the Philippine terror group Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Pata, Sulu Thursday morning by the fleet-Marine units under the Joint Task Force Sulu.
The rescue operation was conducted by authorities at around 2am off the seawaters of Kalinggalang Caluang near Pata Island in Sulu, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.
Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, Western Mindanao Command (WMC) spokesperson, identified the rescued Malaysian as Tayudin Anjut, 45 and Abdurahim Bin Sumas, 62.
The two were rescued by combined elements of the Philippine Marine Ready Force Sulu led by Major Angcap, Marine Special Operations Group, and Marine Battalion Landing Teams 1 and 3 after eight months of captivity.
Both victims were immediately brought by the troops to the Sulu military station hospital for medical check-up and interview.
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“The rescued kidnap victims are weak and in a sickly state when they were rescued by our troops. Military doctors are now attending to them as we speak in our hospital in Sulu,” WMC head Major Gen. Carlito G. Galvez Jr. said.
Anjut and Sumas were among the five Malaysian crewmen of Tugboat Serudung 3 who were kidnapped on July 19, 2016 at the sea waters of Dent Haven, Tambisan, Lahad Datu, Sabah by the group of ASG sub-leader Sibih Pissih.
They were reported missing after their tugboat and barge were recovered without crew members in Tanjung Labian, Lahad Datu Sabah. – BusinessNewsAsia.com with reports from Philippine News Agency