The Philippines: Hostages Freed - NYTimes.comThe Philippines: Hostages Freed - NYTimes.comMain MenuMain MenuType Size:AAANight Mode:DisableEnableAccount:SubscribeLog inThe New York TimesInternational New York TimesSearchGoShareTweetMoreSubscribeSubscribeMy accountLog inWorldWorld BriefingThe Philippines: Hostages FreedShareBy THE ASSOCIATED PRESSOctober 17, 2014 Two Germans kidnapped and held for six months in the southern Philippines were released Friday by a militant group just hours after it had threatened to behead one of them if no ransom payment was made, the Philippine defense chief said. The Abu Sayyaf group released the two Germans, Stefan Okonek and Henrike Dielen, on southern Jolo Island, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said. An Abu Sayyaf spokesman, Abu Rami, told the radio station DXRZ in southern Zamboanga City that his group received $5.6 million in ransom. He did not say who paid it. Mr. Gazmin said he was “not privy” to information about any ransom payment. Abu Sayyaf gunmen seized Mr. Okonek and Mr. Dielen last April from a yacht between Borneo Island and the western Philippine province of Palawan. ShareSaveShow Full Article                            xSharexEmailTwitterRedditGooglePermalinkhttp://nyti.ms/1wl5LZGToolsSaveMore In WorldArgentine President Now Says Prosecutor’s Death Was Not a SuicidePresident Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said she believed that the lead investigator of the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center did not commit suicide.U.S. and Cuba Set to Discuss Diplomatic TiesThe nations on Wednesday discussed migration, and a meeting on Thursday will cover matters like reopening embassies.Citing Falling Oil Prices, Iraq Seeks Arms on Credit to Fight ISIS4:36 PM ETPrime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the precipitous drop in prices posed a fresh challenge to his military’s efforts to push back Islamic State militants.Back to topMain MenuHomeHomeWorldU.S.U.S. NewsPoliticsU.S. PoliticsThe UpshotNew YorkBusinessBusinessBusiness DayTechnologySportsSportsOpinionOpinionScienceHealthArtsArtsStyleStylePhotosVideoMost EmailedTimes PremierMore SectionsAutomobilesBlogsBooksFoodFoodFoodEducationHome & GardenMagazineMoviesMusicMedia & AdvertisingObituariesPublic EditorGreat Homes and DestinationsReal EstateSunday ReviewT MagazineTelevisionTheaterTimes WireTravelWeddingsCorrectionsRecommendationsSavedSettingsEdition:Type Size:AAANight Mode:DisableEnableAccount:SubscribeLog inDownload Our AppsNYTimesNYT NowDownload the NYTimes appHelpSubscribeFeedbackTerms of ServicePrivacy© 2015 The New York Times Company