November 6, 2012, GMA News, Abducted Zambo del Norte town mayor freed,

Jeffrey Lim, the abducted mayor of Salug town in Zamboanga del Norte, has been released by his abductors after seven months in captivity.

Lim, who was abducted last April 2, was finally reunited with his family at about 3 a.m. Tuesday, according to Capt. Alberto Caber, information officer of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division.

Caber said they are verifying information that a P1 million ransom was paid for Lim's release.

"May na-receive kaming report na meron daw ibinigay na ransom money, pero hindi pa namin ma-confirm 'yun," he said.

Lim, 36, was kidnapped by more or less 10 armed men wearing police green uniform on the night of April 2, after which he was believed to have been brought to Basilan province, a known bailiwick of the notorious Abu Sayyaf bandit group.

Caber couldn't say if the Abu Sayyaf, which was responsible for several kidnap-for-ransom activities in the past, including of foreigners, was behind the kidnapping of Lim.

The Abu Sayyaf is a loosely organized group of Islamic fundamentalists with known links to the al Qaeda terrorist network. Aside from kidnappings, it is also blamed for several bombings in Mindanao and Metro Manila. — KBK, GMA News