By AARON B. RECUENCO
Gunmen holding two policewomen and two civilians captive in the jungles of Sulu have freed one of their hostages Saturday.
Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional police, said kidnap victim Faizal Ahidji Hambali was freed at around 7:30 p.m.
“He disclosed the kidnappers released him in a forested area somewhere in Daan Puti, Brgy. Bangkal, Patikul, Sulu. He was blind folded and instructed to drop on the ground until he noticed that his kidnappers already left,” said Mijares, citing the testimony of the victim.
“He immediately left the area and proceeded to the house of his grandmother. His family brought him to the Joint Task Force Sulu Headquarters,” he added.
Hambali was forcibly taken by armed men on April 29 in Barangay Liang, Patikul, Sulu along with another civilian identified as Jackosalem Blas, as with two police personnel identified as PO3 Benierose Alvarez and PO1 Dinah Gumahad, both assigned to the Zamboanga Peninsula regional police.
Hamabli told police his kidnappers were all fully armed and numbering more or less 12.
The kidnappers reportedly asked for P5 million for the safe release of the two female cops.