Abu Sayyaf free 2 Filipino hostages

After close to 8 months in captivity, the Filipino crew of Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani were released Saturday night, February 2, in Sulu, local and intelligence officials said. Cameraman Ramil Vela and audio technician Roland Letrero were released by the Abu Sayyaf Group at around 7 pm, but there was no word about Atyani himself. Jolo provincial police chief Roy Gabor quoted the two as saying they went through so much difficulty. “We didn’t know whether we would make it out alive.” Said to be separated from Atyani on the 5^th day of their captivity, the two were allowed to leave the jungle and were given a horse. Owing to a swollen leg, Vela could not walk. They made it to a highway, took a tricycle to Jolo’s main port, and went to a hotel where they sought help. The two were brought to the Anti-Kidnapping headquarters in Camp Crame late Monday morning. Besides Atyani, at least 4 other foreigners are believed to be held by the ASG and other armed groups – a Dutch, Swiss, Australian, and Japanese.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

Additional details are on BBC. 

The story about their arrival in Manila is on Rappler.