Zamboanga City, Philippines - Two Filipino fishermen seized by Muslim militants were rescued unharmed Thursday by government troops on a southern Philippine island, a senior navy officer said. Rear Admiral Alex Pama said government forces carried out a pre-dawn raid on a hideout of Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels in Akbar town in Basilan province, 900 kilometres south of Manila, where the two captives were held.
The guerrillas engaged the government troops in a brief firefight but soon withdrew after they realized they were outnumbered, leaving behind their two captives, Pama said.
The two fishermen were seized April 4 off Sibago island, also in Basilan.
A separate group of Abu Sayyaf rebels on Sunday released Italian Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni on nearby Jolo Island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila.
Vagni, who left the Philippines for Italy Wednesday, was among three International Committee of the Red Cross workers seized by the rebels on Jolo on January 15. Vagni's co-captives, Swiss Andreas Notter and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba, were released separately in April.
The Abu Sayyaf is the smallest and most violent Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines. The group has been blamed for some of the worst terrorist attacks and other high-profile kidnappings in the country.
