Western Mindanao Command officials led by Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez turn over to a representative of the Vietnamese Embassy three Vietnamese ship crew members who were held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf on February 25 in Sulu and rescued by government troops on November 10 in Tawi-tawi, on Sunday, November 12, 2017.

The three Vietnamese are going home after nearly nine months in captivity.

A fourth hostage succumbed to an illness shortly before the rescue.

His remains will be brought home as well. Photo courtesy of WESTMINCOM        READ STORY