ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 27, 2014) – Abu Sayyaf militants have freed Sunday a Filipino construction foreman after nearly two months in captivity in the southern Philippines, local government officials said.
Officials said Remigio Lingayan, a resident of Zamboanga City, was freed in the village of Bunot in Indanan town. Lingayan, accompanied by policemen, was immediately flown to Zamboanga City and welcomed by Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar at the Philippine Air Force base.
Salazar thanked Sulu Vice Governor Sakur Tan for helping in the safe release of Lingayan. Salazar previously sought Tan’s assistance in recovering Lingayan, who was earlier reported beheaded by Anadolu Agency.
Lingayan was met by his anxious family in the military base. No other details were made available by authorities on the release of Lingayen or whether ransom had been paid to the kidnappers.
Lingayan was kidnapped along with his brother-in-law Joselito Gonzales on June 4 while working on a construction project in the province. They were travelling for Jolo town from Maimbung town on a vehicle when flagged down by gunmen. Gonzales was believed to have been killed by the Abu Sayyaf.
Quoting a Philippine military report, the Anadolu Agency, said Lingayan was hit by bullets when soldiers and policemen tried to rescue him during the fighting. There were no official report from either the police or military about the beheading of Lingayan, but the fighting had killed and wounded at least 40 soldiers and militants.
The militants, whose group is tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya, originally demanded P7 million from the poor families of the two victims and threatened to decapitate them if ransom is not paid.
The Abu Sayyaf is also holding several foreigners kidnapped in Tawi-Tawi province and Sabah in Malaysia and brought to Sulu, where government officials and residents have repeatedly denounced and condemned the atrocities of the militant group. (Mindanao Examiner)
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