Airport engineer seized by Sayyaf in 2012 freed

ZAMBOANGA CITY—An airport engineer kidnapped by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in 2012 was freed on Tuesday.

Col. Jose Johriel Cenabre, head of Joint Task Force Sulu, said Carlos Tiam Tee, an engineer employed at the Air Transportation Office in Jolo, was released around 3 a.m. on Tuesday.

The 63-year-old Tee was snatched from his residence in Asturias Village in Jolo on April 7, 2012.

Cenabre said Tee’s family was surprised to see him knocking on their door at dawn.

Cenabre said the Tees denied paying ransom in exchange for the victim’s freedom.

Tee was taken to the Integrated Provincial Hospital for a medical checkup.

The Abu Sayyaf, a group with links to the international terror network al-Qaida, is still keeping captive other victims. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao