Philippine kidnappers free construction worker
JOLO, Philippines, Aug 23 (AFP)
- Muslim extremist guerrillas in the southern Philippines freed one Filipino hostage
Wednesday but held on to 27 others including 12 westerners, the former captive's employer
said.
"He is back," local
builder Hajirul Mandangan told AFP, referring to his employee Reynante de la Cruz.
The 20 year-old construction
worker and two co-workers were abducted by the Abu Sayyaf in this southern island on
August 1.
Mandangan insisted no ransom
was paid, and that the release was secured with the help of community "elders"
in Jolo.
He said the fact that one of de
la Cruz's parents is a Muslim may have worked in his favor.
The gunmen still hold five
French people, a Franco-Lebanese, two Germans, two Finns and two South Africans and 15
Filipinos, including de la Cruz's co-workers.
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