ZAMBOANGA CITY (Updated) -- The Abu Sayyaf Group released on Monday, May 21, the government engineer they seized three months and seven days ago in Jolo, Sulu.
Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said Engineer Enrico Nee was freed around 8 a.m. Monday, May 21, in the village of Latih, Patikul, Sulu.
Nee is employed with the first engineering district of Sulu of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-Armm).
Sobejana said the Abu Sayyaf bandits abandoned Nee in Latih.
Nee was fetched to the DPWH first engineering district office and later to the Joint Task Force Sulu headquarters in Camp General Teodulfo Bautista in Busbus, Jolo.
Nee immediately underwent medical checkup upon arrival at Camp Bautista.
Nee said the Abu Sayyaf bandits may have released him because he was delaying their movement due to his health condition.
He said they do not probably want him to die due to sickness in their custody.
Nee recalled that he was seized by seven Abu Sayyaf bandits aboard a Tamaraw jeep on February 14 in the village of San Raymundo, Jolo, while he was on his way to report for work at the DPWH District 1 office.
He was taken to the mountainous part of Patikul where a bigger group of Abu Sayyaf bandits was waiting.
Sobejana said the relentless security and rescue operations will continue to recover the remaining hostages.
The Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf bandits are still holding captive nine people. Among the captives are Indonesians, Vietnamese, Dutch, and Filipinos.
Earlier, the Abu Sayyaf Group released two policewomen they abducted on April 29 in Patikul, Sulu. (SunStar Philippines)