2nd abducted worker in Sulu freed – AFP

Kidnappers have finally released the last of two Filipino construction workers they abducted in the southern Philippine island province of Sulu last Monday. In a text message received by GMANews.TV, Lt. Col. Stephanie Cacho, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said last remaining kidnap victim Raja Halud was released to his relatives by his abductors at around 7:30 p.m. on Friday in the vicinity of Kapok-Punggol village in Maimbung town. As of posting time, Halud is at his residence with his family at Godinez, Latih village in Patikul town, Cacho said. The two hostage victims are both working on a US-funded road project in the town of Maimbung, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group blamed for previous kidnappings-for-ransom in the province. Last Monday, the two men were driving a dump truck along the main service road in Lunggang town, also in Maimbung, when around six armed men snatched them. (See: 2 workers abducted in Sulu - military) The other victim, Jalal Alih, was released on Wednesday. (See: 1 of 2 abducted workers freed in Sulu) Authorities have yet to determine the identities of the Alih and Harun's abductors. The military also could not yet determine if money changed hands during the release of the latest hostage victim.—Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV