Sulu doctor freed from captors

ZAMBOANGA CITY –– After more than a month in captivity, a doctor in Jolo, Sulu found his way to freedom on Tuesday night, March 24.

Major General Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, confirmed that Dr. Daniel Moreno was freed.

Moreno was recovered by the troops of the 11th Military Intelligence Battalion, together with members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Bangalan village, Indanan town in Sulu about 7:30 p.m., Vinluan said.

Vinluan said he was “left behind by the kidnappers.”

He said the military was “still verifying if the family gave in to the demand of the Abu Sayyaf Group.”

Before his release, Vinluan said, they received a report of the kidnap victim being held by Abu Sayyaf leader Mundi Sawadjaan and kept in Bangalan.

When the government troops and MNLF members went to the area, the captors hurriedly left, but there was a brief firefight, said Vinluan.

Moreno was kidnapped on the evening of February 4 in Barangay Walled City in Jolo.

LZB