SULU – Abu Sayyaf militants have freed a kidnapped municipal official in southern Philippines after being held for 35 days, the military said Friday.
It said Ezeddin Tan, a councilor in Sulu’s Jolo town, was released on November 1 near the village of Buru in Talipao town, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf whose leaders have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
This was also confirmed by Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the anti-terror Joint Task Force Sulu. He did not say whether the politician’s family had paid ransom to the kidnappers.
Tan was kidnapped at gunpoint on September 27 while he was biking with a group of friends in Indanan town. His family did not give any statement to the press. Sobejana said the councilman is in good physical condition.
The Abu Sayyaf is still holding nearly 2 dozen Filipino and foreign hostages in the southern Philippines.
The military said it will order fresh offensive against the Abu Sayyaf and other jihadist groups in Sulu and Basilan, both provinces in the restive Muslim autonomous region, following the defeat of local ISIS fighters in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province. (Mindanao Examiner)
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