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MANILA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops rescued on Friday four Vietnamese sailors taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf militants in February in southern Philippines.
Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, the spokesman of the military's Western Mindanao Command, said four Vietnamese sailors were rescued and another Vietnamese hostage was found dead apparently due to illness.
Petinglay identified the rescued hostages all as crew members of the bulk carrier MV Giang Hai 5.
The military said the Vietnamese hostages were abducted by the Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu province on February 25.
Petinglay said the rescue operation was launched shortly before 8:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Friday near the Kang Tipayan Islands in Languyan town.
