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Manila: Officials vowed on Wednesday to hunt down Al Qaida-linked militants who freed a popular TV news anchor, her cameraman and a university professor they had snatched in the volatile southern Philippines.
Recounting their 10-day jungle ordeal, the journailsts said their Abu Sayyaf abductors, some as young as 12, tied them up and made several threats to behead them.
But after days of negotiations with local officials, the militants released ABS-CBN anchor Ces Drilon and the two other captives on Jolo island before midnight Tuesday.
National police chief Avelino Razon said he was unaware if a ransom was paid.
The journalists arrived in Manila from southern Zamboanga city, where a military helicopter ferried them from Jolo to be examined by doctors and debriefed by police. They had rice porridge for breakfast and were reunited with their families at a Zamboanga beach resort, Razon said.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said, "We are happy for bringing the victims back but our rejoicing must not overshadow our unrelenting efforts to bring the perpetrators to the bar of justice and face the full force of the law."
Razon said information Drilon and the other freed hostages provided will be used in operations against their kidnappers.
"There will be a manhunt operation. We will not allow that the perpetrators will go unpunished. We will run after them, file cases against them," Razon said.
At a news conference in Manila, the freed journalists thanked everyone who helped secure their release. They said they were cooperating with authorities for the capture of their abductors.
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