Abu Sayyaf frees abducted Filipino government employee, but 8-year-old son still held captive

Abu Sayyaf has released a Filipino government employee after hold him in captivity for three months in the Philippines' Sulu province, the military said on Wednesday (16 November). However, the man's eight-year-old son is still being held by the terror group.

The man, identified as Elmer Ybanez Romoc his wife Nora and son Ricson, were reportedly abducted in Zamboanga on 5 August. Nora was released on 23 August by the militants.

Major Filemon Tan, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command of the Philippine army, said the man was released on Monday evening in the town of Jolo. The next morning he boarded a ship from Jolo to Zamboanga City, where he reunited with his family.

The victim was an employee of the Payao Municipal Treasurer's Office in Zamboanga, Manila Bulletin reported.

It was not clear if any ransom was paid for Romoc's release. The trio were reportedly abducted by Abu Sayyaf team, which was led by Adore Abdulla and Jaber Susukan.

Recently, the Islamist group had abducted a German couple, who were taken hostage from their yacht named Rockall, off Sulu forests. The woman's naked body, with signs of sexual assault, was recovered from the yacht by locals.