Hostages freed

ZAMBOANGA: Ten Indonesian sailors abducted by Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants were freed in the southern Philippines on Sunday after five weeks in captivity, Philippine police said.

Unknown men dropped off the 10 tugboat crewmen at the home of provincial governor Abdusakur Tan Jnr on the remote island of Jolo during a heavy midday downpour, Jolo police chief Junpikar Sitin said.

“The report is confirmed. They were there.

I saw them,” Superintendent Sitin added. The condition of the former captives was not immediately known, though Sitin said the group ate lunch at the governor’s home.