DAVAO CITY—Freed Abu Sayyaf hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad on Saturday thanked the Philippine government for facilitating his release. Peace process adviser Jesus Dureza, in a statement, said Kjartan Sekkingstad was released by his captors at around 2 p.m. on Saturday. READ: Abu Sayyaf releases Norwegian hostageADVERTISEMENTSekkingstad was supposed to be presented to the media here but the event was cancelled due to inclement weather. “Thank you to President Duterte,” Sekkingstad was quoted as saying in a phone conversation with Dureza. Sekkingstad is one of the four people taken by the Abu Sayyaf from a marina in a Samal resort here last year.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 17, 2016 12:53 UTC