Malacañang Welcomes Release of Two Abu Sayyaf Hostages

Manila– The Palace welcomed the released of a Filipino resort worker and a Chinese tourist abducted by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sabah, Malaysia, two months ago.

Filipino resort worker Marcelita Dayawan and Gao Hua Yuan, a Chinese national, were kidnapped in Sabah last April.

“Mainam na balita ‘yan at subject nga ito for verification, ikinalulugod po natin ang balitang tulad niyan sapagkat hindi po tayo tumitigil sa paglaban sa mga aksyon na ganyan na kriminalidad at nakakaapekto sa imahe ng ating bansa,” President Communications Operations Office secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said in an interview Saturday.

The Palace official told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan about the importance of cooperation among neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines in resolving such cases.

Malaysia expressed its gratitude to the country’s security forces for helping it solve the kidnapping incident.

“Ganoon nga ang ating saloobin tungkol diyan at maaari din sigurong matukoy dito ‘yung mainam na pakikipag-ugnayan ng ating bansa sa ating mga kapit-bansa tulad ng Malaysia at maging ng Indonesia sa pagreresolba ng mga ganyang usapin,” he said.

These neighboring countries share coast border issues such as crimes being committed in a particular location and criminals relocating to other nations, he said, noting the necessity of close cooperation among these countries.

The two women were snatched from Singamata Adventures and Reef Resort in the town of Semporna in Sabah on April 2.

The victims were first brought by their captors to Tawi-Tawi before they escaped by boat to Sulu and reportedly handed the hostages to another Abu Sayyaf group. (PNA) CTB/PND/RSM