Manila, June 06: The Abu Sayyaf's longest-held hostage has escaped from the Muslim extremist group following a gun-battle between Philippine marines and his captors, a military spokesman said today. Roland Ulah escaped on Wednesday after more than three years in captivity in the confusion of the clash outside Patikul town on southern Jolo island, Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero said.

One marine and an undetermined number of guerrillas were killed and 11 other soldiers were injured, he said.

Lucero said that Ulah hid in a ravine and was found by local villagers the following day when he asked for directions to get to Jolo town, the capital of Sulu province, about 940 kilometers south of Manila.

Patikul vice mayor Ismon Suhuri told the Associated Press by telephone that soldiers came to get Ulah from a “safe place'' today.

He said that Ulah, who had lost weight and grown a beard, reported that the military operation broke up the Abu Sayyaf group holding him, giving him the opportunity to escape.

“I expect the operation will intensify now that Ulah has escaped,'' Suhuri said.
Ulah, a Filipino, was seized in April 2000 when Abu Sayyaf rebels raided the Malaysian resort of Sipadan, where he worked as a handyman, refilling scuba tanks, running errands and cooking food.

Bureau Report