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A Philippine military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to comment to the media, said the militants would not likely have harmed Nazarrudin because of concerns it may prompt a backlash against thousands of Filipinos working nearby in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state on Borneo island. But knowing his family couldn't afford what his captors said was a ransom of 5 million pesos ($116,000), Nazarrudin sneaked out early one morning and ran as fast as he could. He hid in a mangrove swamp, trying to avoid snakes and eating raw snails and mud crabs to survive. "After a month, I felt like I was on the verge of dying. I was very weak and had little energy left. So I surrendered myself. It was better than having to die alone in the swamp," he said. Back in the village, he was surprised to see another hostage at the house and later found out it was a Malaysian ethnic Chinese fish trader. They were later joined by a third captive
-- Biju Kolara Veetil from India -- but were allowed to speak to each other only after a few weeks. Veetil told Nazarrudin he was abducted while visiting his wife's hometown in Sulu province. Police have said they are trying to verify intelligence reports that Veetil might have been killed even after a ransom was paid. The three men were moved to a swamp area after the militants heard about a possible sting operation by Philippine troops. Guarded by eight gunmen, they camped there for weeks before returning to the village. Nazarrudin was later taken to another island while the other two captives remained behind. After several weeks, he was brought back to Jolo to another secluded hillside village, where he escaped for the second time. The gunmen pursued him for hours, firing warning shots into the air and furiously calling out for him. He eluded them, trekking for three days to a village where he met someone who helped him secure a nearly 10-hour boat ride to Sabah. Last week, Nazarrudin flew back to Kuala Lumpur for a tearful family reunion. "This experience has made me a better man, but I will never return to the Philippines again," he said.
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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