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Philippines’ Abu Sayyaf militants release 10 Indonesian hostages

Sunday, 01 May 2016 9:31 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 01 May 2016 9:28 AM ]

The file photo shows Philippine soldiers waving to the media as they head to the mountains to secure the release of two people held hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants on the island of Jolo, southern Philippines. © AP

Ten Indonesian sailors kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in March have been released in the southern Philippines.

Unidentified men dropped off the tugboat crewmen at the home of provincial governor, Abdusakur Tan, on the isolated island of Jolo on Sunday, Jolo police chief, Junpikar Sitin, told AFP.

"The report [of their release] is confirmed. They were there. I saw them," Sitin said.

The Indonesians were abducted at sea by the militants on March 26.

It is not yet clear if a ransom had been paid for the freedom of the hostages. The terror group does not normally release prisoners unless a ransom is paid.

The sailors were freed six days after Abu Sayyaf beheaded a Canadian hostage, John Ridsdel, after it failed to receive a ransom.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino pledged on April 27 to eliminate the militants after Ridsdel's decapitated head was found outside the city hall on Jolo.

Filipino officials say the militants are still holding at least 11 other foreign hostages, four Indonesians, four Malaysians, a Canadian, a Norwegian, and a Dutchman.

On April 8, an Abu Sayyaf released a former Italian missionary after six months of captivity.

Established in the early 1990s, Abu Sayyaf is listed as terrorist by both the United States and the Philippines.

Last year, two major commanders of Abu Sayyaf declared their support for the Daesh Takfiri terrorists based in Iraq and Syria. The group was once regarded as an offshoot of al-Qaeda.

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