Kidnapped businessman, wife freed in Sulu

A couple who were kidnapped in Sulu province in southern Philippines last week had been released by their captors over the weekend, a military spokesman said on Monday. Jose Batronel and his wife Jocelyn were simultaneously released Saturday night, according to Lt. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command. Citing belated reports, Cabangbang said Mr. Batronel was released around 7:45 p.m. in Jolo while his wife was freed a few hours earlier. He said Mr. Batronel was promptly taken to the Sulu provincial hospital after complaining of dehydration. Cabangbang said they have no information if ransom was paid for the release of the couple. The couple were kidnapped along with their 21-year-old helper Julie Latorre last July 13 inside their home in Jolo. Latorre escaped by jumping off from the suspects’ getaway vehicle. Investigators have yet to identify the group behind the kidnapping, although Sulu is known as the stomping ground of the bandit group Abu Sayyaf, an al Qaeda-linked band of Islamic fundamentalists that has carried out a number of high profile kidnappings in the past. This development came as authorities continued to work for the release of an American woman, her son and nephew who were kidnapped in Zamboanga City, also in southern Philippines, last week. The kidnappers were said to be asking for a $10-million ransom for the safe release of Gerfa Lunsmann, her son Kevin Eric and Filipino nephew Romnick Jackaria. In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Aquino government is not keen on heeding the ransom demand of the kidnappers. “We don’t pay ransom. Yun po ang policy natin and that is something that the local crisis committee knows," Valte said at a press briefing Monday. She said the local crisis committee, headed by Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat, is on top of the situation. - with Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News