PNP rescues 3 kidnapped Indonesians in Tawi-Tawi
MANILA, Philippines — Operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Tawi-Tawi have rescued three kidnapped Indonesian fishermen in the municipality of South Ubian.
PLt.Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar said, based on the reports that reached the PNP Command Center in Camp Crame, the Indonesian nationals were identified as Arizal Kasta Miran, male, 30 years old; Arsad Bin Dahlan, male, 41 years old; and Andi Riswanto, male, 26 yrs old. All three are residents of Kabupaten Wakatobi Municipality, Sulawesi Tengara, Indonesia.
Arrested in the rescue operation was one of their captors, Suhud Salasim alias Ben Wagas, 45, a resident of Maimbung, Sulu. Salasim is reportedly a member of the Abu Sayyaf group.
The three Indonesians said they were fishing in Tambisan, Sandakan in Sabah along with 5 others on January 15, 2020, when seven armed men took them by force and brought them to Sulu province.
They said bad weather caused their motorboat to capsize along the shore of Pasigan Laut, South Ubian, Tawi-Tawi, while they were fleeing from authorities.
Tandubas Municipality Police Station chief PCpt. AL Kenneth Cayanga said they received a report on Thursday at 5:30 PM about the sea mishap and proceeded to the area to conduct rescue operation.
The three Indonesians said their abductors freed three of their companions, while the other one got separated from them when their motorboat capsized. One died while their kidnappers were engaged in a firefight with AFP troops.
“The PNP in coordination with the Coast Guard is conducting search operations for other missing persons lost at sea. Meanwhile, we are also coordinating with the Indonesian government to validate the identities of the victims and find their families”, Eleazar said.