Four Sarawakian sailors who were abducted by the Abu Sayyaf militants on April 1 were freed on Wednesday.
After being released from captivity, the sailors returned to Sandakan, Sabah, early in the morning.
The reports from Jolo revealed that after several rounds of negotiations, the Malaysian and Filipino negotiators managed to secure the release of the four sailors.
However, the Sabah Police Commissioner Abdul Rashid Harun has declined to comment on the matter.
The four Sarawakians; Wong Teck Kang, 31; Wong Hung Sing, 34; Wong Teck Chii, 29; and Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21 were kidnapped by eight armed men in the waters of Semporna, off Pulau Ligitan while they were returning to Malaysia from Philippines.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded an RM18mil ransom in order to release them.
