The Abu Sayyaf group has released one of the hostages it has kept in Sulu. Filipina Marites Flor, who was kidnapped from the resort island by the Muslim militant group in September, has safely returned, officials said.
Flor was abandoned in front of the residence of local government official, Abdusakur Tan on Jolo Island at around 4.30 am. She was later handed over to the Joint Task Force Sulu for a medical checkup at the trauma hospital.
"Western Mindanao Command is glad that Ms. Flor is now safe and is on her way back to her family and can enjoy a normal life with them again," Tan told the Associated Press.
However, it wasn't immediately clear why Flor's captors released her and there was no report on whether any ransom was paid for Flor.
Flor was seen in Abu Sayyaf videos tearfully pleading for her life and those of her companions. In a final video, she called on President-elect Rodrigo Duterte asking to save their lives.
Last April, the bandits killed John Ridsdel as the ransom deadline lapsed and later they executed Flor's partner Robert Hall. Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad is still in captivity.
