ZAMBOANGA CITY: Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) holing up in Southern Mindanao freed their kidnapped businesswoman last Christmas eve, police said.
Identified
by authorities as Michelle Panes, 36, the said victim was kidnapped in their bakery
at the market area in Labuan, this city last August.
Police
added the also abductors took along P50,000 cash from the counter.
She
was released in Bilaan, Talipao, Sulu. Police said her family paid a still
undetermined amount of ransom.
Civilians
recovered the woman trader wandering in their village and handed her over to
local officials who contacted the military and informed them about Panes being released.
She
underwent routine medical check-up after which was then transported by a
helicopter to Westmincom her where she reunited with her anxious family.
The
military was mum about the release of Panes, but reports have said the continuing
AFP operation against the Panes’ kidnappers caused her to be released.
Last
October, the ASG earlier released German nationals Viktor Okonek and Henrike
Dielen, claiming that the couple paid P250-million in ransom.