ZAMBOANGA CITY, 24 November 2004 — Authorities said three Asian tugboat crewmembers kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf group off the southern province Tawi-Tawi are all dead.
Rebels kidnapped Malaysians Toh Chiu Tong, and Wong Siu Ung, and Indonesian J.E. Walter Sampel — crew of the tugboat Ocean 2 — on April 11 off Tawi-Tawi while on their way to Solomon islands to deliver a shipment of pebbles.
Marine soldiers have recovered the remains of the hostages in the town of Panglima Sugala in Tawi-Tawi, about 1,120 km south of Manila, and military reports claimed the trio had probably died from malaria in June.
Malaysia’s New Sabah Times yesterday reported that the remains are in the custody of the Philippine military in Sang-Sanga island in Tawi-Tawi and would be handed over to Malaysian and Indonesian officials.
Marines reported the discovery to Malaysian trader Henry Chan, who was negotiating for the release of the hostages.
The kidnappers had demanded $1.5 million for the release of the trio.
