ZAMBOANGA CITY—Abu Sayyaf kidnappers released before dawn Thursday one of two abducted humanitarian workers after ransom was paid, ending her 45-day ordeal on the island-province of Basilan.

Basilan Vice Gov. Al Rasheed Sakalahul, head of the provincial crisis management committee, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Esperancita “Espie” Hupida had been freed but did not give details on the ransom.

“Thank God, Espie is here. Together with her husband, we fetched her at Tipo-Tipo,” Sakalahul said in a text message at 3 a.m.

He said the group was on its way to Isabela City after taking Hupida from her kidnappers about an hour earlier. Espie’s husband Nestor said she was taken from Limbo Paz in Tipo-Tipo Central.

A program director of the local NGO Nagdilaab Foundation, Hupida was kidnapped along with Merlie Mendoza and four other aid workers on Sept. 15 while on a mercy mission in Basilan. The four others managed to escape but Mendoza’s situation was not immediately known.

Hupida, 42, was later brought on a military boat to Zamboanga City, where a Mass was celebrated for her freedom.

“With God’s providence I survived,” a pale and haggard-looking Hupida told reporters.

Hupida said she lived in constant fear during her ordeal, with the bandits at one time threatening to cut off her fingers if her family refused to pay a ransom of P2 million.

Police said Hupida was freed after negotiations between local officials and the Abu Sayyaf. She said Mendoza was still alive, but was kept away from her.

“We don’t know whether ransom was paid or not, but we are monitoring the situation and working closely with the provincial crisis management committee,” said Chief Supt. Bensali Jabarani, police commander of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Board and lodging fee

“I am very happy, we are all very happy with Espie’s release and we are hoping their case is the last kidnapping in Basilan,” Nestor said.

“We gave ransom if you want to call it that way, but it’s really difficult to raise that amount and several important things in the family have been sacrificed so we could raise the money,” he said.

While acknowledging the help of friends and colleagues, he said the family had to mortgage their house so the ransom payment could be completed.

But Jabarani maintained that no ransom was paid.

“The loan for the house is not enough to raise ransom, probably, it was board and lodging (fee),” he said.

Like Sakalahul, Nestor did not say how much was paid for his wife’s freedom.

Fr. Angel Calvo of the Nagdilaab Foundation said the amount was immaterial and what was important was that Hupida had been freed.

“I feel liberated, it’s a liberating experience,” Hupida said when contacted by the Inquirer later Thursday.

Hupida said she had no idea where Mendoza was being held because she last saw her four days after they were kidnapped.

“I don’t know where she is now, I can’t say anything about her,” Hupida said in an apologetic tone.

Mendoza’s family was mum on whether talks with the kidnappers for her release had started.

Sakalahul earlier said the kidnappers wanted P5 million for Mendoza’s freedom.

“Milet is probably in one of the houses there in Basilan and soon she will also be freed like Espie,” Jabarani said.

He said police wanted to rescue Mendoza, but they were letting the negotiators first do their jobs.

“We maintain respect to the existence and request of the crisis management committee to allow them first to negotiate so others could be freed,” he said. Negotiations were also going on for the freedom of Precious Feleciano, who was kidnapped in Zamboanga City in July, Jabarani said.

Mosquito bites

Calvo said he was surprised to see Hupida in “good shape.” He said aside from mosquito bites, she was in top form.

“She looks well. Espie told me that it was a great experience (being kidnapped) and I was wondering what does she meant by that,” Calvo said.

Nestor said his wife became “more fair now and looks healthy.”

Hupida said she spent most of her days with the kidnappers inside a house.

Calvo said the Nagdilaab Foundation in Basilan would continue with its “commitment to poor communities” but added it will have to “rethink our programs.”

For Hupida, she still does not know if Basilan would be among her assignments.

“All I need for now is a rest, a break,” she said. With a report from Agence France-Presse