TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An official at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila Basriana Basrul said that the three Indonesian citizens that had just been freed from the Philippines' terrorist group Abu Sayyaf will be sent home soon after undergoing a few medical check up procedures. They are Emanuel, 40 years old; Lorence Koten, 34; and Theodorus Kopong, 42 years old.
They were the crew of the Malaysian flagged fishing boat who were kidnapped on the waters of Lahad Datu, Malaysia, July 2016. “The three are undergoing a post trauma healing,” Basriana said Tuesday, September 20, 2016.
The three Indonesian citizens from East Nusa Tenggara were officially accepted by the Indonesian Ambassador in Manila, Johny Lumintang, on Monday. “The ambassador met them at Zambaonga (South Phillipines). They are in good condition, “ Basriana added.
According to Basriana the three hostages were released on September 17, through a joint effort that was backed by the Philippine government.
The Politics, Law, and Security Minister Wiranto said that he guaranteed the repatriation process of the three hostages.
“They are being flown back home by a commercial airline. I urge everyone to be patient so everything will go as planned.”
YOHANES PASKALIS
