Kidnapped Sulu treasurer freed

Abu Sayyaf group. AP FILE PHOTO

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The kidnapped provincial treasurer of Sulu was freed on Christmas Day and has since been reunited with his family here.

Sulu Vice Governor Abdusakur Tan said Jesus Cabelin, who was abducted allegedly by Abu Sayyaf bandits, was released by his abductors in Patikul town but provincial officials were not aware of Cabelin’s release until after he had arrived in Zamboanga City and reported his release to the authorities.

Colonel Jose Johriel Cenabre, commander of  Joint Task Force Sulu, said he was also not aware that Cabelin had been released.

Senior Superintendent Abraham Orbita, the Sulu provincial director, said he was informed of Cabelin’s release the day after the victim walked out of captivity.

“Cabelin was freed by his abductors around 7 p.m. on December 25 in Patikul and the next thing we knew, he was already with his wife, Naira Cabelin, in their house in Tugbungan in Zamboanga City,” Orbita said.

He said police gathered that Cabelin’s relatives had pleaded for his release but “we don’t know if there was ransom paid to the abductors.”

Cabelin was the third Abu Sayyaf captive released this month.

On December 4, Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani was freed while Taiwanese Hei An Wei Chang alias Evelyn Chang, who was kidnapped in Sabah, Malaysia, was released in Sulu on December 20.