[PNA] The Abu Sayyaf on Sunday released a three-year-old boy they kidnapped in March last year in the town of Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur. Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado identified the freed child as Ace Jay Garban. Ace is the grandson of Mayor Richard Garban of Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur.Arrojado said Garban was spotted "without a companion" by a concerned citizen Sunday afternoon in Indanan, Sulu. He said, "Immediately, the concerned citizen approached the child and at the same time informed the military unit of the kidnap victim's presence in the area."
The boy was was turned over to the Jolo Internal Defense Force. Arrojado said efforts are underway to reach Garban's relatives in Zamboanga del Sur for his eventual return to the province.
Garban was seized by ten Abu Sayyaf gunmen together with his two-year-old brother, Zynielle Jay, and bakery worker Ledegie Tomarong, 17, on March 31, 2015. The militants killed Zynielle Jay, whose body was plucked out from ocean in Zamboanga del Sur, while Tomarong was released on July 20, 2015.