KOTA KINABALU: Two Malaysian fishermen who were rescued from Philippine kidnappers and taken to a hospital in Sulu will be brought home soon as possible,Sabah Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Razarrudin Husain said today.
"As mentioned by state Police commissioner (Datuk Ramli Din), the duo will be back soon… (possibly) by April," he said after the 210th Police Day celebrations at the state police headquarters here.
Tayudin Anjut, 45, and Abdul Rahim Sumas, 62, were rescued during a Philippines marine operation at the coastal province of Jolo on Thursday.
The Foreign Ministry said yesterday that the Philippine Air Force transported the duo to Sulu, before they will be returned to Malaysia.
The two were kidnapped with three other fishermen – Mohd Zumadil Rahim, 23, Fandy Bakran, 26, and Mohd Ridzuan Ismail, 32 – believed by the militant Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group in waters off Lahad Datu in July, last year.
Ramli had tweeted that rescue efforts for the three are ongoing.