Two Indonesian sailors fled Abu Sayyaf bandits in the southern Philippines after nearly two months in captivity, Indonesian Security Chief Minister Wiranto disclosed on August 18.
Armed Philippines policemen escort Indonesian national Mohammad Safyan, center, as they leave a hospital in Jolo in Sulu province, in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, on Aug. 17, 2016, after he escaped from his captors, the extremist group Abu Sayyaf. (Source: time.com)
Jakarta (VNA) – Two Indonesian sailors fled Abu Sayyaf bandits in the southern Philippines after nearly two months in captivity, Indonesian Security Chief Minister Wiranto disclosed on August 18.
Ismail, one of the sailors, escaped from the Abu Sayyaf captors on August 17, the same day when his peer, Muhammad Sofyan, also escaped the group.
Ismail is currently at Luuk town while Muhammad Sofyan is in Zambuanga town of the Philippines, the minister said.
Both seamen are undergoing medical check-ups by the Filipino authorities, he added.
Ismail is the chief officer of a tugboat whose seven crew were taken hostage in waters off the Philippines in June.
Nine Indonesian nationals along with scores of foreign nationals remain as hostages by the Abu Sayyaf captors in the southern Philippines.
ও A total of 25 Indonesian sailors have been abducted by the group this year and so far 16 of them have been released.-VNA
Indonesian Minister of Defence Ryamizard Ryacudu has proposed military escort for ships sailing on dangerous routes to Philippines, where dozens of sailors have been kidnapped by Islamic militants.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak and Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo have instructed their special envoys tasked with resolving overlapping maritime claims to intensify efforts.
Indonesian armed forces have decided to set up a special squad to assist the release of local hostages being held by Abu Sayyaf rebel group in the Philippines.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered law enforcers to arrest Caucasian-looking people who were allegedly involved in indoctrinating Filipinos with teachings of the IS.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Armed Philippines policemen escort Indonesian national Mohammad Safyan, center, as they leave a hospital in Jolo in Sulu province, in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, on Aug. 17, 2016, after he escaped from his captors, the extremist group Abu Sayyaf. (Source: time.com)
