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Chinese rescued from militants
A CHINESE shopkeeper held hostage by Islamist militants for nearly 19 months in the Philippines has walked free after his abductors clashed with police, officials said on Tuesday. Wu Xili, an illegal immigrant who also goes by the name Peter Go, was rescued after a firefight with Abu Sayyaf militants on Jolo island late on Monday, regional military chief Lieutenant-General Ben Dolorfino said. 'The rescue operation was initiated by local police in the area,' Gen Dolorfino told reporters, confirming that the 28-year-old was now in government hands and uninjured. Police said there were no reports of casualties on either side after the 10-minute firefight. They said they recovered two rifles, a grenade, and machine-gun bullets from the scene of the clash. Police said the Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines, snatched Wu in December 2008 shortly after his family migrated to the troubled south of the country from China to set up an appliance store. The gunmen at one point demanded 10 million pesos (S$301,399) in ransom, though it was unclear if any amount changed hands. Local authorities rarely acknowledge paying ransom, which is against government policy. Posted by: Fred 2010-07-07 |
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