YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Islamist militants in the Philippines allied with Islamic State freed a South Korean cargo ship captain and a Filipino member of his crew held captive for more than three months on a southern island, an army spokesman said, reports Reuters.

They were freed with the help of rebels belonging to the Moro National Liberation Front.

The cargo vessel was sailing to Australia from South Korea when 10 Abu Sayyaf militants boarded it in October and abducted the captain and a Filipino member of his crew.

Presidential peace adviser told reporters that the government didn’t pay a ransom to the militants.

Abu Sayyaf terrorist group is still holding over two dozen captives on Jolo island. Citizens from the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam are among the captives.

Photo by AP