UPDATE - Militants free Filipina after beheading companions

UPDATES TO CHANGE HEADLINE, ADD TAN STATEMENT

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines (AA) – The Philippines’ military confirmed Friday that Daesh-affiliated militants have released a Filipina who was kidnapped alongside two Canadians the Abu Sayyaf recently beheaded.

The police director of the southern island province of Sulu said in a statement that Abu Sayyaf members brought Marites Flor to the house of Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan in provincial capital Jolo early Friday morning.

Senior Supt. Wilfredo Cayat, however, did not provide further details.

Flor had been abducted from Samal island alongside Canadians Robert Hall and John Ridsdel and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad last September, before they were brought to Sulu.

On June 13, the Abu Sayyaf beheaded Hall after a deadline set by the group for the delivery of a 600 million peso ($13 million) ransom was missed.

His beheading followed that of Ridsdel, after a 300 million peso ransom also failed to be paid.

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., Western Mindanao Command spokesman, said in a text message Friday that Flor has been taken for a medical check-up.

He neither confirmed nor denied whether a ransom was paid for her release, but said the Norwegian man is still being held captive by suspected Abu Sayyaf militants.

Since 1991, the Abu Sayyaf group - armed with mostly improvised explosive devices, mortars and automatic rifles - has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortions in a self-determined fight for an independent province in the Philippines.

It is notorious for beheading victims after ransoms have failed to be paid for their release.