Freed hostage recalls Abu Sayyaf ordeal: We were treated like dogs

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DAVAO CITY—They were kicked, punched and slapped.

An emotional Marites Flor, the Filipino woman kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf, on Friday recounted her experience with the bandit group.

“Yung treatment nila parang aso, bata kami. Kaya pag nagkakamali binubugbog,” Flor told reporters here.

“Sinasampal nila ako. Binubugbog naman ‘yung mga kasama ko,” she added.

Incoming Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said Flor was released before dawn on Friday and later turned over to Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan II.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Flor was set free by still unidentified men near Tan’s house at 3 a.m.

PNP said police brought Flor to the Trauma Station Hospital at Camp General Teodolfo Bautista in Jolo, Sulu, for medical examination at 11:45 a.m.

Dureza said Tan “made all the effort” for the release of Flor. He said the governor was the one who spoke to the Abu Sayyaf.

“I came from Oslo only to be told that Marites was ready to be turned over this morning,” said Dureza, who met with Flor in Jolo on Friday morning.

During his visit in Oslo, he said the Norwegian foreign minister and President-elect Rodrigo Duterte talked over the phone regarding the Norwegian hostage of the Abu Sayaff.

Asked by reporters if there was ransom involved in the release of Flor, Dureza said there were no preconditions.

Quoting Tan, Dureza said the release of Flor was a “gesture of goodwill.”

Flor is now on her way to her hometown in Valencia, Bukidnon. /rga

Marites Flor is in tears as she recounts her suffering with other kidnap victims in the hands of Abu Sayyaf Group members.

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