KOTA KINABALU: Malaysian police have cleared Filipino hotel worker Marcy Dayawan of any involvement in the kidnapping case in Semporna.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines said Monday that the Filipina had been given the clearance by the Malaysian police based on the statement of the Chinese victim.
Philippines Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the Malaysian government would turn over Marcy to the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur after she was cleared from an investigation related to the case.
Mercy, 40, and Gao Huayun, 29, were abducted by Abu Sayyaf on April 2 from the Singamata Adventures and Reef Resort in Semporna.
The resort hired the Filipina two months before the kidnapping. She was found working illegally in Sabah after the Abu Sayyaf freed her and the Chinese woman.
The Abu Sayyaf released the two hostages in Parang town after a leader of the former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) negotiated with the kidnappers.
Kuala Lumpur said no ransom was paid to the kidnappers, who initially demanded about P500 million (RM36.4 million) for Gao. They also threatened to behead Mercy if the ransom was not paid.
The Abu Sayyaf handed the hostages to Filipino soldiers and police officers in Sulu province who, in turn, brought them to Sabah and eventually to Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, the Philippines Embassy’s press and information officer Johann Andan yesterday said that Marcy would have to wait a little longer before she can return home.
Marcy is now resting at the Philippines Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and officials said she would be returning to her homeland “shortly.”
“We are working out some documentation for her,” said Andan.
He said Marcy was in good spirits and was looking forward to being reunited with her family.
Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar was quoted as saying that Gao was reunited with her family in Shanghai on Sunday.