Abu Sayyaf group frees four Philippine power utility employees

Sulu: The Abu Sayyaf (ASG), a local terror group in the south, freed on Thursday night four hostages after 15 days of captivity, a police report said.

The employees of the Basilan Electric Cooperative (Baselco) - identified as Emilberto and Alberto Singson, Paul and Birin Herowig - were released to former Basilan Board member Alton Angeles by 8pm in Magkawa village.

No ransom money was paid, said Angeles. Earlier, the ASG demanded a 1 million pesos (Dh90,909) ransom for the release of the hostages.

They were abandoned on roadside. "They looked haggard and wore the same clothes they were wearing when they were kidnapped 15 days ago," said Angeles.

"One of the hostages said they were not harmed, but they were forced to move from one place to another to avoid detection by the police and military," said Angeles.

"They treated us well," Emilberto Sngson was quoted as saying after his release. He and his companions were brought to a nearby hospital for medication, said police director Senior Superintendent Malik Macapantar.

Explaining why the hostages were taken by the ASG, Angeles said, "The relatives of the Abu Sayyaf Group wanted Baselco to give electric supply in their area without them going through the normal application process."

"I was able to convince the relatives of the kidnappers that power supply will be brought to their area by August," said Angeles, adding that the kidnappers believed him when he said the payment of ransom money to them would further bury Baselco in debt.