A FISHING boat crew, who was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf bandits almost six months ago along with three others, has escaped in the province of Sulu, a top military official announced Thursday, June 8.
Colonel Cirilito Sobejana, Jr., Joint Task Force Sulu commander, named the hostage who dashed to his freedom as Roy Ramos one of the crew of a fishing boat, F/B Ramona of Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur.
Sobejana said Ramos managed to escape from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf bandits two days ago in the hinterlands of Patikul town and was recovered by villages officials at Sitio Kandabaw in the village of Lagtoh, Talipao municipality.
The village officials turned over Ramos to the Talipao town mayor, who in turn informed the Joint Task Force Sulu.
Sobejana said Ramos was brought to the headquarters of the Joint Task Force Sulu in Camp Bautista, Jolo, and has undergone medical examination.
Ramos is one of the four crew of F/B Ramona the Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan have seized on December 20, 2016 in the Celebes Sea that borders the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
The Abu Sayyaf have killed by beheading Noel Besconde, the skipper of F/B Ramona, in April 13 this year in revenge to the death of Muamar Askali alias Abu Rami.
Askali was killed in a firefight with government troops in April 12, this year, in Inabanga, Bohol.
The two remaining crew of F/B Ramona who remained in captivity were Reyjim Rocabo, the boat mechanic, and Roel Liones, a crew.
The Abu Sayyaf bandits are still holding captives 27 people that included 12 Vietnamese, seven Indonesians, seven Filipinos, and one Dutch.
Government troops continue to scour the hinterlands of Sulu in search for the hostages the Abu Sayyaf have separately seized. (SunStar Philippines)