14-year-old Indonesian Citizen Who Was Taken Hostage By The Abu Sayyaf Group Was Successfully Rescued

ILLUSTRATION / Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Pancasila Building (PHOTO VIA ANTARA)

JAKARTA - A joint operation by the Philippine security apparatus has succeeded in cornering the Abu Sayyaf group in a gun battle. This operation also succeeded in rescuing a 14-year-old Indonesian citizen with the initials MK on Kalupag Island on Sunday, March 21.

The child is now in good health. This was confirmed by the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao through TNI members at the Indonesian Border Crossing Station in Bongao, Tawi Tawi.

"The Indonesian Consulate General in Davao, through members of the TNI at Border Crossing Station Indonesia in Bongao, Tawi Tawi, has met and examined the condition of the Constitutional Court. The person concerned is in good health and well, ”was quoted as saying in a written statement on the website of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu), Monday, March 29.

Furthermore, MK and three other Indonesian citizens who had already been rescued would be dispatched to Zamboanga before being flown to Manila.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Indonesian Embassy in Manila and the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao City will coordinate with the Philippine Government for the repatriation process to Indonesia," wrote the statement.

With the discovery of the Constitutional Court and three other people, all Indonesian citizens who were held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group were successfully released.

"The Indonesian government expresses its appreciation for good cooperation with the government and security forces in the Philippines," said the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.