Abu Sayyaf militants free hostage in Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- An Indonesian man who'd been captured by Abu Sayyaf, the militant Islamist group based in the Philippines, has been freed, the army reported.

Herman Bin Maggak, 30, a fisherman abducted in August, was handed over to the Moro National Liberation Front, who turned him over to the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Sulu province. Maggak received a physical examination and debriefing before he was formally turned over to Indonesian authorities, said Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command of the Philippine army.

Maggak said that while captive, the army nearly rescued him three times in gun battles with Abu Sayyaf, which is aligned with the Islamic State.