MANILA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Philippine security forces have rescued the two women abducted by Abu Sayyaf terrorists before dawn on Wednesday, a military spokesman said on Thursday.
Lt. Col. Gerry Besana of the military's Western Mindanao Command said the militants were forced to abandon hostages Edelyn Tulawie, 27, and her mother Adding Tulawie, 57, in a remote village in Talipao town in Sulu province around 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Besana said troops were immediately sent to the village after residents alerted the authorities about the abduction.
While scouring the area, Besana said the operating troops rescued the two hostages in the forested area of the village.
The military said about 20 Abu Sayyaf militants kidnapped the two while they were sleeping at their house around 2:20 a.m. on Wednesday.
Talipao town is a known lair of the Abu Sayyaf extremists.
Abu Sayyaf is a small, violent, Islamist terrorist group operating in the western fringes of Mindanao and on the island provinces of Sulu and Basilan. It has a record of killings, kidnappings and also carries out bombings.
Besana said the militants are still holding 11 hostages.