German sailors freed by Philippine militants
by AP News/Sail-World on 23 Oct 2014
German tourists Professor Stefan O. (74) and his companion Henrike D. (55) holding a German flag while being held by members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group after their abduction. SW
Two German sailors who went missing in April, after being abducted by Abu Sayyaf militants and held in a jungle encampment, have been freed. A Philippine official says the pair were released just hours after it had threatened to behead one if no ransom payment was made.
Back in April, the two were taken by heavily-armed bandits while sailing to Sabah, Malaysia from Palawan. They had just come from an island-hoping trip around the coast of Mindanao when abducted on April 26 in the waters off Bataraza town in the Southern tip of Palawan province.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the Abu Sayyaf group released Stefan Okonek and Henrike Dielen late Friday on southern Jolo Island.
Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Rami told radio station DXRZ in southern Zamboanga City that his group received 250 million pesos ($5.6 million) in ransom. He did not say who paid the ransom.
Gazmin said he was 'not privy' to information about any ransom payment.
He said he was happy the Germans were safe and hoped there would be no more
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