Indonesian hostage rescued while another drowns and Malaysian is shot after fleeing Muslim militants in Philippines
- Two captives escaped – one in critical condition – after being picked up by Philippine marines in Sulu province
An Indonesian hostage held by Muslim militants in the southern Philippines swam his way to freedom but another drowned while a Malaysian was shot in the back while escaping, officials said on Saturday.
The two Indonesians and the Malaysian separately escaped while Philippine marines were trying to rescue them on Simusa island in southern Sulu province in the last two days, regional military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana said.
“The island had been blockaded for the past 41 days. They [kidnappers] probably thought they could slip past us by swimming,” he added.
The dramatic escapes leave at least three more hostages in the custody of the Abu Sayyaf, which is blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organisation due to its brutal history of bombings, ransom kidnappings, extortion and beheadings. The remaining captives include a Dutch bird watcher, Elwold Horn, who was kidnapped by the militants in 2012, and two Filipinos.
One of the Indonesians, Heri Ardiansyah, was plucked from the waters by marines on board a gunboat while they recovered the body of his companion, Hariadin, who drowned. Like many Indonesians, Hariadin used just one name.