ZAMBOANGA CITY – Troops have recovered the body of a Vietnamese sailor and rescued three others from the Abu Sayyaf in a “special operations” launched Friday in the restive Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines, officials announced tonight.
Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command, said one of the sailors, Nguyin Huu Trong, died while in captivity; and trio – Buy Xuan Vien, Bui Trung Duc and Nguten Quang Huy – were taken to a military hospital in Zamboanga City where doctors are examining them.
They were recovered around 7.45 a.m. on an island called Kang Tipayan in the remote town of Languyan in Tawi-Tawi province.
“Huu Trong was found dead when he was recovered by troops of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao and the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi. Due to a lingering illness, Huu Trong succumbed to death during his captivity,” Petinglay said without further elaborating on the details of the military operations that led to the safe release of the hostages.
Rear Admiral Rene Medina, chief of the naval forces in the region, who played a key role in the recovery of the foreigners, said: “The Vietnamese hostages were transported by navy personnel to Zamboanga City for proper disposition and medical treatment.”
Brigadier General Custodio Parcon, Jr., commander of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, said marines and navy forces were involved in the operations. “Through the operations conducted by our marines and navy, we successfully recovered the Vietnamese hostages off Tawi-Tawi waters, and we mean to intensify our offensives to pressure the bandits to yield,” he said.
It was unknown whether the hostages had been freed for ransom or not. No one among the officials gave details of the “special operations” that led to the release of the Vietnamese seamen. Local and regional government officials also did not release any statement on the recovery of the hostages.
The sailors were among 17 crew members of the cargo ship MV Giang Hai 5 hijacked by the Abu Sayyaf on February 25 while sailing off of Pangutaran Island. Two of the crewmen were also killed by the Abu Sayyaf while attempting to escape while the rest had been recovered by soldiers.
The recovery of the sailors coincided with President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Vietnam for the APEC summit. The Abu Sayyaf is still holding 7 foreigners and 9 Filipinos. (Mindanao Examiner)
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