JAKARTA, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo has requested his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte to help release three Indonesian nationals abducted by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the Philippines, a minister said on Wednesday.
Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, conveyed the request directly to Duterte on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit recently held in Busan, South Korea, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said.
The Indonesian citizens, 48-year-old Maharudin Lunani, 27-year-old Muhammad Farzan and 27-year-old Samiun Maneu, have been kidnapped by the armed group since September 24, according to the Indonesian foreign ministry.
Retno pointed out that Indonesia's request was well responded by the Philippine side.
"We have asked for the assistance of the Philippine authorities to intensify efforts to free three Indonesian citizens safely and this was responded well by them," said Retno.
In a video footage released weeks ago, one of the hostages unveiled that the abductors demanded a ransom of 8 billion rupiahs (equals to 567,174.8 U.S. dollars), according to the ministry.
The three Indonesian nationals worked for a fishing firm in Malaysia and they were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf group in the waters off Pulau Tembisan of Sabah, Malaysia.
The abduction of the three persons increases the number of Indonesian nationals held hostage by Abu Sayyaf group which has so far kidnapped over 36 Indonesian citizens since 2016, and most of them were freed, the ministry disclosed.
The latest kidnapping took place despite a trilateral agreement among the military forces of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines on joint patrols in the waters situated at the borders of the countries.
