THE rescued Malaysian fisherman, who was shot and wounded by the Abu Sayyaf bandits, died while under treatment at a local hospital in Zamboanga City, military officials said.
Colonel Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said that Jari Abdullah, 34, passed away at 1:17 p.m. Tuesday, April 9.
Besana said that Abdullah’s death, caused by gunshot wounds inflicted by his Abu Sayyaf captors during the rescue operation, was witnessed by his family and officials of the Malaysian embassy and International Monitoring Team (IMT).
Besana added that Abdullah’s family executed a waiver consenting the removal of his life support.
The Philippine Marine Ready Force-Sulu troopers retrieved Abdullah near the Abu Sayyaf bandit’s withdrawal route 15 minutes after they engaged in a firefight against the bandits under Najir Arik on April 4 in Simisa Island, Banguingui, Sulu.
Brigadier General Divino Rey Pabayo, Jr. said Abdullah managed to escape, although wounded since “he was shot by his captors before he was secured by the troops.”
“We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families of Abdullah. Our troops are exhausting all efforts to defeat the Abu Sayyaf bandits and bring justice to the victims of terror,” said Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, Westmincom chief.
Meanwhile, Dela Vega turned over a rescued Indonesian fisherman, Heri Ardiansyah, to Indonesian DAFA Colonel Sigit Himawan Sutanto.
Ardiansyah was rescued on April 5 in the waters off Simisa Island along with another Indonesian fisherman, Hariadin, who goes only by one name. However, Hariadin drowned.
Ardiansyah and Hariadin tried to swim across the channel towards Banglao Island as the Marine forces and Abu Sayyaf bandits under Arik engaged in a firefight.
The remains of Hariadin was brought to Manila on Monday.
Ardiansyah, Hariadin, and Abdullah were seized from their boat while they were fishing on December 6, 2018 at Pegasus Reef Kinabatangan, Malaysia. (SunStar Philippines)