AKIPRESS.COM - Authorities in Colombia have identified the remains of two journalists from Ecuador and their driver who were kidnapped while reporting in a dangerous border region, AP reports citing officials.

The Ministry of Defense announced that three bodies recently discovered had been confirmed as those of the news team that disappeared three months ago.

The employees of the Ecuadorean newspaper El Comercio were investigating a rise in drug-fueled violence along the Colombia-Ecuador border.

They are journalist Javier Ortega, photographer Paul Rivas and driver Efrain Segarra. The remains will be turned over to Ecuadorean officials, officials said.