(Update) 2 kids rescued from abductors in Patikul, Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Two children were released by their abductors early Sunday morning after a five-day captivity in the hinterlands of Sulu province, south of this city. Col. Eugenio Clemen, chief of the 3rd Marine Brigade, told reporters on Sunday that troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team - 6 had rescued the children in Anuling village in Sulu's Patikul town, said to be the turf of Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron. Clemen identified the victims as Ben Austine, 3, and Benedict, 2, who were snatched by kidnappers in the morning of September 16 at the children's residence in Kakuyagan village in Sulu's Jolo town. The suspects were identified as members of a group led by a certain Hajal Hatae. The group's leader demanded P1 million in exchange for the safe release of the children. It was not immediately known whether they have ties with the Abu Sayyaf bandits who had been engaged in kidnapping activities in Mindanao. Clemen said the MBLT-6 led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Larida planned the rescue operations after the parents of the children sought assistance from the Philippine Marines in the afternoon of September 20. The operation was carried out at about 4:30 a.m., Sunday, which lead to capture of two of the suspected kidnappers identified as Jamiri Jalisan, the father of Hajal's wife, and Julmina Hatae, Hajal's wife. They were placed under investigation at the headquarters of the 3rd Marine Brigade. - GMANews.TV