UPDATE: South Korean ship captain and Filipino freed in Sulu

January 14, 2017

A South Korean and a Filipino held by armed men since October were freed Saturday in Sulu, Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza said Saturday in Davao City. Dureza, who received the victims in Jolo, arrived at the Davao airport  before  noon with  Park Chul Hong, 38, and Glenn Alindajao, 31, of Dong Bang Giant 2 ship. They were held for two and a half months. In October, ten armed men boarded the ship and kidnapped its captain, Hong and Alindajao in the Celebes Sea south off Bongao, Tawi-tawi. Dureza said no ransom was paid.  “ We don’t pay ransom. But if there are efforts taken by the private sector, that is their concern and not ours,” he said. Dureza said the captives were turned over  by Sulu Governor Sakur Tan at 7:40 a.m. in Jolo. Alindajao will return to Cebu while Hong will be brought by the Korean Embassy to Manila. Major Filemon Tan,  Western Mindanao Command spokesman, said based on initial report the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) based in Kagay, Indanan, Sulu helped facilitate their release. “(Presidential adviser on the peace process) Sec. (Jesus) Dureza arrived at Jolo airport and proceeded at Sulu Governor (Sakur) Tan's residence and left Jolo, Sulu with the two released kidnap victims at around 11:15 am for Davao City,” the officer said. In a press conference aired over radio, Dureza said the two were taken by a group “whose leader is called Abraham.”  And then Abraham was killed and then they were passed on to another group,” he  added. Tan said because the two kidnap victims were released, the terrorist group in southern Philippines are  holding a total of 25 hostages in Basilan and Sulu. The two victims were abducted in October last year  after their ship, MV Dong Bang Giant, was attacked by the Abu Sayyaf off the waters of Tawi-tawi, the military said. MV Dong Bang Giant, a heavy loader carrier ship that came from Australia, was on its way to Korea when they were seized by  armed men aboard a speed boat. (Robina Asido/DMS)