The Philippine army on Sunday transferred three sailors it had rescued from the Abu Sayyaf Islamic militant group to the Vietnam Embassy in the country.

The Giang Hai Vessel before being attacked by the Abu Sayyaf Group

According to the embassy, the three crewmembers of the Giang Hai Vessel, Bui Xuan Vien, Bui Trung Duc, and Nguyen Quang Huy, were rescued and handed over to the Philippines army unit on Tawi Tawi island on November 10. Another sailor, Nguyen Huu Truong, was also rescued but he died over serious illness.

The sailors were then taken to Zamboanga for medical treatment before being transferred to the Vietnam Embassy in Manila on November 12.

The Vietnam Embassy is processing paperwork to promptly send these men and Truong’s body back home.

The sailors were captured by the ISIS-affiliated group Abu Sayyaf off the waters of Pearl Bank, Pangutaran, Sulu on February 25.

Two of the 17 crew members on the vessel have been killed while attempting to escape. Ten others were rescued by the troops, while the remaining was transported by the IS militant group to mainland Sulu.

In July, three Vietnamese sailors of the cargo ship MV Royal 16 were found beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf Group. They were among six crew member taken hostage when their ship was attacked off the Philippines last November. The pirates released the vessel and 13 of its crew members at the time.

The Philstar Newspaper cited the Philippine's military as saying that as of this date, there are still 7 foreigners and 9 Filipinos who are still held by the Abu Sayyaf in the hinterlands of Sulu. 

dtinews