MANILA, Philippines—The kidnapped crew of a fishing company in Zamboanga city, was released on Tuesday after the family of one of the victims reportedly paid for his freedom, said Director Felicisimo Khu Jr., head of the Philippine National Police Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (PNP-DIPO).
Jonald Ocsimar together with Renato Panesales and Wennie Ferrer, all crew members of a light boat owned by the Zamboanga city-based Mega Fishing Corp., were abducted by suspected bandits in off the waters of Jolo waters on March 19.
Ocsimar was released on Tuesday after his family negotiated allegedly paid P300,000 for his ‘board and lodging’, said Khu.
Earlier, Marivib Ocsimar, wife of the kidnapped Ocsimar, asked the military to call off its operations in Jolo to allow Mega Fishing Corp. officials to negotiate for the release of her husband and two companions.
The kidnappers initially asked P20 million from Mega Fishing Corp. for the release of their captives. The amount was later bargained down to P10 million, and then to P4 million.
It was unclear why the kidnappers agreed to a P300,000 ransom, from P4 million.
No further details were given by the police as of press time.