INDONESIA’S foreign affairs ministry yesterday said the government is putting up efforts to rescue 10 Indonesian crewmen who were kidnapped on Saturday by the Abu Sayyaf in the waters off Tawi-tawi.
“To handle this case, the ministry continues to communicate and coordinate with all related institutions in Indonesia and the Philippines, including the foreign affairs minister of the Philippines,” said Arrmanatha Nasir, spokesman of the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry. “Our priority is the safety of all 10 Indonesians held hostage.”
The crew were on board two tugboats called Brahma 12 and Anand 12, which were reportedly carrying 7,000 tons of coal, en route from Puting river in Banjarmasin in Indonesia’s South Kalimantan province to Batangas.
Reports said authorities found one of the tugboats abandoned at Languyan island, Tawi-tawi on Monday afternoon.
Arrmanatha said Brahma 12 was already in the custody of officials, and the crewmen were still held being held hostage.
A report said a demand for ransom equivalent to at least US$1 million for the crew’s release has been made.
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