Hostage freed after nine months

Abu Sayyaf extremists yesterday freed a man they kidnapped last year in the southern Philippines, a military report said yesterday.

Sherwin Lu Caraig was released in the village of Karawan on Sulu island's Indanan town after more than nine months in captivity. He was then handed over by village officials to Mayor Suod Tan of the capital town of Jolo.

The military report said Caraig was kidnapped in Bongao town in neighbouring Tawi-Tawi province after guerrillas mistook him for the son of a wealthy businessman.

Caraig turned out to be a labourer, but the rebels nevertheless held him for nine months.
The military could not say if ransom was paid, but his release coincided with the visit of Philippine military chief, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Defensor to Jolo yesterday.

Sulu army chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Tolentino said he briefed Defensor on the progress of the operation to free four kidnapped Filipino women and three Indonesian sailors held by gunmen on the island's dense jungles.

Gunmen continue to hold captive four women who are members of the Christian Protestant Jehovah's Witnesses. They were kidnapped in Patikul town last month while selling herbal medicines and cosmetics.

The Indonesians are being held by another group in Kalingalang Caluang town after escaping from a military offensive in Luuk town early this month.

The foreigners were seized after their Singaporean-registered cargo ship was hijacked by gunmen with links to the Abu Sayyaf on June 17 off Jolo island while en route to Cebu province to deliver coal.

Meanwhile, the Philippine air force yesterday pounded the jungle lairs of the Abu Sayyaf, military officials said.

Military officials said the planes bombed several rebel strongholds in Patikul after ground forces located suspected Abu Sayyaf hide-outs, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

More than 6,000 soldiers were sent to Sulu to rescue all the hostages and crush the Abu Sayyaf. Troops continue to track down the kidnappers, who demanded P15-million ($300,0000) for the safe release of the foreigners and one million pesos ($20,000) each for the Filipinos.

Brig. Gen. Tolentino said the dense forests, rugged terrain and bad weather are hampering the search for the hostages.