Indonesian Abu Sayyaf hostage killed in shooting in Philippines

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – A hostage Indonesian national (WNI) with the initials LB who was taken hostage died after a shootout between Philippine security forces and the Abu Sayyaf group in the city of Patikul, Sulu province.

At 0800 local time on Wednesday, the body was flown from Sulu to Zamboanga in a Philippine military plane, and then taken directly to the Zamboanga funeral home.

“On behalf of the government, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims for the death of the Indonesian citizen,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said at a virtual press conference on Wednesday (01/10/2020).

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LB is one of five kidnapped nationals who were fishing in wooden boats in the waters off Lahad Datu, Malaysia, on January 16.

The man, known as La Baa (32), was later abducted by six masked men who abducted them in Philippine waters, according to a Lahad Datu maritime police report.

The Indonesian citizen from Buton, southeast Sulawesi, was abducted along with four of his colleagues, Arsyad bin Dahlan (42), Arizal Kastamiran (29), Riswanto bin Hayono (27) and Edi bin Lawalopo (53).

“We will continue to coordinate with the Philippine authorities on the fate of the other four hostages,” Retno said.

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In this case, he said, the Armed Forces of the Philippines have pledged to find and rescue Indonesian nationals who are still being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group.