Taiwanese tourist kidnapped in Malaysia in November released in southern Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine military says a Taiwanese tourist who was kidnapped more than a month ago in Malaysia has been released in the southern Philippines.

Sulu provincial military commander Col. Jose Cenabre says Evelyn Chang was recovered late Friday in a remote village outside Talipao township on Jolo Island.

Chang's husband was killed during the Nov. 15 kidnapping at a secluded island resort in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah.

Cenabre said Saturday that kidnappers handed over Chang to al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu, which is near Malaysia. The group is notorious for ransom kidnapping and terrorist attacks. Cenabre was unaware if ransom was paid for Chang's release.

Early this month, the Abu Sayyaf freed Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani after more than a year in jungle captivity.