Abu Sayyaf freed Taiwanese hostage, says Philippine military

Islamist insurgents in the southern Philippines released a Taiwanese tourist who was kidnapped more than a month ago on a remote Malaysian resort island, a Filipino military commander said yesterday.

Philippine police and marines found Evelyn Chang late on Friday in a village on the Philippine island of Jolo after they were tipped off by residents, said Sulu provincial commander Colonel Jose Cenabre.

"I think I just want to say I deeply appreciate the Philippine military for giving me such a big help and assistance to rescue me. Thank you very much," Chang said in English in a pre-recorded message aired by several Taiwanese news channels yesterday.

Chang was on holiday with her husband when she was seized on November 15 from a villa on Pom Pom island in the Malaysian state of Sabah. The kidnappers killed her husband and took her by boat to Jolo, according to officials in both countries.

Chang told Philippine authorities that she did not see her husband being shot but heard gunfire as he was being dragged away by kidnappers who wore ski masks, Cenabre said.

Chang was held by Abu Sayyaf militants after she was handed over to them by the gang who initially seized her, Cenabre said. Abu Sayyaf is seeking an independent Muslim state in the mostly Catholic country.