RI sailors turned over to lawmakers

RI sailors turned over to lawmakers

PHILIPPINES: Two Indonesian sailors, freed after more than two months of captivity, were turned over on Wednesday to an Indonesian lawmaker, while the Philippine military said efforts were under way to rescue a third hostage.

The three tugboat crewmen were kidnapped by suspected Muslim guerrillas in March. Two were rescued on Sunday on southern Jolo island after a firefight between troops and al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf extremists.

Erickson Hutagaol, 23, and Yamin Labuso, 28, told reporters at the Philippine military's Southern Command headquarters in Zamboanga city that their captors kept them constantly on the move and they feared for their lives.

They were turned over to Indonesian lawmaker Junus Effendie Habibie, who said he would take them home by Saturday. They will be sent to an army hospital for further medical examination and trauma treatment, he said.

Philippine Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza said operations to rescue the remaining Indonesian sailor were under way. He didn't elaborate. A senior Philippine diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that officials were hoping to have the hostage freed before Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to Manila next Monday. -- AP