Two of the three Indonesian fishermen kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the waters off Sabah, Malaysia, in September were rescued by the military in Panamao, Sulu, Sunday morning, after 91 days in captivity.
Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), identified the rescued victims as Maharudin Lunani, 48, and Samion Bin Maniue, 27.
Rescue operations are still being conducted by the troops to save the third kidnap victim, 27-year-old Muhammad Farhan.
The victims were abducted by ASG rebels while they were fishing in the waters off the island of Lahad Datu in Sabah on September 22.
Sobejana said joint military units led by the 4th Marine Brigade of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) launched the rescue operation after months of surveillance and pursuit operations.
He said the troops twice encountered an undetermined number of ASG rebels at Mt. Bud Dawis around 5 a.m. where one unidentified suspect and one soldier were killed while another soldier was wounded.
The identity of the slain soldier has yet to be released pending information of his immediate family.
The two encounters led to the safe rescue of the two Indonesian kidnap victims. The soldiers also recovered the slain ASG rebel’s M16 rifle with M203 grenade launcher.
“This is part of our relentless efforts to rescue the remaining kidnap victims of ASG before the end of the year,” Sobejana said.
Aside from Farhan, the ASG also reportedly holds captive a Filipino victim, the WestMinCom chief said.
“We are optimistic that we can rescue the Indonesian victim. As to the Filipino victim, we are still validating the status to determine if it is legitimate. Sometimes, the (ASG) only makes gimmick (that they kidnap locals),” Sobejana said.
The rescued Indonesian fishermen told the soldiers that the third victim was with the fleeing ASG bandits who encountered the 4th Marine Brigade, according to Sobejana.
“Right now, we are focused on rescuing the third Indonesian victim. We have already cordoned the area,” Sobejana said.
He also said that the WestMinCom is “looking forward” to the neutralization of the ASG’s two key leaders, Hajan Sawadjaan and Radulan Sahiron.
During the 84th anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) last week, President Duterte ordered the military to crush the ASG and the New People’s Army.
“We want to meet the target of the President to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf. We have few more days before the year ends,” Sobejana said.
The rescue of the two Indonesian victims was the latest accomplishment of the Western Mindanao-based military unit.
Last month, the military also rescued British couple Allan and Wilma Hyrons from ASG after 52 days in captivity. (Martin A. Sadongdong)