On August 21, representatives of Consulate Department, (Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs) confirmed, they had received the information of sailor Do Trung Hieu being rescued by Philippine Navy.

Abu Sayyaf Group. Photo: Reuters

Consulate Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted with related authorities of Philippines to verify the information and instruct Vietnam’s Embassy in Manila to prepare necessary measures to take over the sailor and return him home.
In advance, according to Philippine media, The Philippine Navy rescued a Vietnamese hostage of the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan in a military operation that forced the bandits to flee.
"A Vietnamese kidnap victim who had been held captive by the Abu Sayyaf Group for months was rescued by military forces on August 20, 2017 at Mataja Island, Basilan," said Rear Admiral Rene Medina, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao.
Do Trung Huiqe, a crew member of MV Royal 16 that the bandits attacked in November 2016, was brought to a military hospital for medical check up and debriefing.
The hostage was rescued by the team of Colonel Juvymax R. Uy of the Joint Task Force Basilan with the help of the Naval Intelligence Service Group Western Mindanao.