Manila: An Indian national abducted in southern Philippines’ Sulu was able to escape from his captors, reports reaching the capital said.
Biju Kolara Veetil, an executive of a South Korean engineering firm doing business in Asia, was able to flee from his Abu Sayyaf captors after almost three-months in captivity.
The Indian national escaped just before dawn yesterday as his captors slept, reports quoted Sulu Provincial Police chief Senior Supt. Antonio Freyra, as saying.
“Veetil had waited until his captors were asleep springing his escape,” Freyra said, adding that the victim had fled in the darkness and managed to make his way to Patikul.
In Patikul, he was picked up by some people who immediately brought him to the home of Sulu provincial official Ismun Suhuri.
Suhuri, in turn brought the Indian executive to the police.
According to Freyra, Veetil had said that he had lost considerable weight after being held for three months by the Abu Sayyaf.
Veetil, who is married to a local Tausug woman, was abducted last June 22.
Aside from local businessmen, several foreigners had been abducted by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and Basilan in the past.
Recently a Malaysian trader dealing in the trafficking of wildlife was abducted and released by the group. Mohammad Nasaruddin Bin Saidin was released by his last May 18 after a more than a year-long captivity.
The Abu Sayyaf is also believed to be holding retired Australian soldier Warren Richard Rodwell, who was abducted in Zamboanga Sibugay in December last year. In February this year, two Europeans were snatched by the Abu Sayyaf in island province of Tawi-Tawi. Swiss naturalist Lorenzo Vin-ciguerra, 47, Ewold Horn, 52 of the Netherlands were on a bird-watching trip when they were seized by the Abu Sayyaf.
