Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani, was been released by Abu Sayyaf militants after being held for 18 months on Sulu island in Mindanao.
According to his employer, Al Arabiya News Channel, report said that Atyani was handed over to the local governor’s office around 7 p.m. in Barangay Igasan in Patikul town on the island of Jolo, Sulu on Wednesday night by kidnappers.
Atyani will be turned over to the Philippine government authorities before returning to his country.
Col. Jose Joriel Cenabre, chief of the 2nd Marine Brigade and commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, confirmed the release of Jordanian journalist.
Cenabre said, police and military troops recovered Atyani in Barangay Igasan, Patikul, around 8:30 p.m. and the journalist was still undergoing medical treatment at a Marine camp in Sulu.
Middle East television news channel said, Atyani’s suffered health problems due to his long period of captivity in the custody of Abu Sayyaf militants.
“There will be more details released later, but for now there is an overwhelming feeling of joy and relief that our colleague Baker will finally be re-joining his family and re-joining us,” a Al Arabiya editor said.
He was set free after the Cairo-based al-Azhar, Jereusalem Grand Mufti, and the Islamic scholars of Mindanao, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for his release.
Atyani’s family and Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC) also concerted efforts for his early release.
