Military releases former hostage of Abu Sayyaf

A former Abu Sayyaf hostage, Filipino diving instructor Roland Ullah, 46, was flown to Zamboanga City by soldiers yesterday from the southern island of Jolo, after a week-long interrogation by the military on his alleged links with the hostage-taking bandits in the south.

Government agents whisked Ullah, who was wearing a blue baseball cap and sunglasses, into a waiting van at Zamboanga City International Airport.

He was finally reunited with his wife, Joy, and their two children, one of whom was born several months after the Abu Sayyaf group held him and 20 other hostage in Pulau, Sipadan, off Sabah, on April 23, 2000.

Ullah was among Asian and European holidaymakers who were eventually brought to Jolo days after their abduction.

His wife, Joy, and brother, Romy, appealed earlier to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to request his release, for fear that the military might hold him longer following reports that he might be the Abu Sayyaf group's mole in Malaysia.

Responding to the request, Emannuel Manuag, Human Rights regional director, said: "The military should file charges against Ullah if they think he is one of the Abu Sayyaf, otherwise, they should release him immediately because they are curtailing his rights and freedom."

Ullah's family wanted to file charges of illegal detention against the military for refusing to free the former hostage. He escaped on June 4 from his captors after a gunfight with security forces in Jolo's Patikul town, but was suspected by the military of having joined the rebels.

Ullah, accompanied by Army commander Brig. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, arrived shortly before 1 pm in a SeaAir plane. Former Jolo island governor, Sakur Tan, and his wife were also in the same plane. Tan was instrumental in the safe release of other Sipadan hostages.

"Ullah is frail-looking," said Tan. "I am happy to see him out and free. Ullah can now be with his family. We had spent so much time and effort back then to free all the Sipadan hostages, and now Ullah is a free man once again."

Tan's wife, who spoke briefly to Ullah in the plane, said the former resort worker had insect bites on his arms and face. "He has many insect bites on his arms. We are happy to see him out," she said.

Ullah will be presented to President Gloria Arroyo today at the military base, where she is to celebrate Independence Day.

In Jolo, Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo, the island's military chief, said Ullah was only put through the usual debriefing procedures and interviewed about his ordeal.

"There have been some inconsistencies in Ullah's testimony, but we need to get his statement and this is procedural. We do the same to other kidnap victims," said Brig. Gen. Aleo.

Meanwhile, many foreigners who were former hostages of the Abu Sayyaf expressed their confidence that Ullah was like them, a victim and not a partner in crime.

Ken Fong, a Malaysian national, said Ullah will return to work at the resort in Sipadan. "He did not collaborate with the Abu Sayyaf," said Fong in a statement.