KOTA KINABALU: The two women abducted from the Singamata Reef Resort off Semporna almost two months ago have been freed, with no ransom paid for their release.
Chinese National Gao Huayuen, 29, and Filipina Marcy Dayawan, 40, were brought out of the southern Philippine island of Jolo and arrived in Sandakan at 4.30pm Friday, escorted by Malaysian police officials.
According to a security official, two officers departed for Jolo at 10.30am and arrived there two hours later.
With the help of their Philippines counterparts, the officers managed to rescue Gao and Marcy from a remote mountainous location on the island.
The two women, who were abducted from the Singamata Reef Resort in Semporna on April 2, will be flown to Kota Kinabalu at 9.30pm before being taken to Kuala Lumpur at 6am on Saturday.
They will be escorted by several senior police officers from Bukit Aman.
The official said the two women were freed due to negotiations by Malaysian security officers.
It is understood that no ransom was paid in securing Gao and Marcy’s freedom.
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