Queenie Casimiro of ABS-CBN News Zamboanga reports that "Filipino-Algerian sisters Nadjoua and Linda Bansil, who were abducted by the Abu Sayyaf in June 21, 2013, were rescued by the military and police in Sitio Kantatang, Barangay Buhanginan, Patikul, Sulu on Thursday afternoon, February 20."
The report noted: "The rescue was conducted via a joint special operation by elements of Marine Battalion Landing Team-6, Marine Battalion Landing Team-2 and 2nd Marine Brigade and Sulu Police Provincial Office with efforts from Sulu Vice Governor Sakur Tan."
The report futher revealed that the Abu Sayyaf initially demanded P3 million for the release of the sisters, who are independent filmmakers. In fact, the two had gone to Mindanao to do a documentary on the region’s coffee farmers.
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