MANILA, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Philippine military troops have rescued three Indonesian kidnapping victims in the southern part nearly 20 months in captivity, the military said on Sunday.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, the spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command, said the Indonesians were rescued around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday in a remote village in Indanan town in Sulu province.

Besana said the rescued victims were kidnapped on Jan. 18, 2017, while on board a speedboat off the waters of Taganak Island in Tawi-Tawi province.

Besana said the victims were brought to a local hospital for medical check-up and custodial debriefing before they will be flown to the main headquarters of the AFP Western Command in Zamboanga City.

"They will then be turned over to the Indonesian ambassador at the Western Mindanao Command (later on Sunday)," Besana said.

Besana did not say who abducted the Indonesians. The military has blamed the Abu Sayyaf militants in previous kidnapping incidents involving foreign nationals in the area, including Indonesians.