Rodwell freed, 6 more foreigners held hostage

After 15 months in captify Australian Warren Rodwell is free. He was abducted from his home in Zamboanga Sibugay in December 2011.
The Abu Sayyaf Group released Rodwell at the port area in Pagadian City. A short video taken by a journalist at the police station early Saturday showed a gaunt but smiling Warren Rodwell taking off his T-shirt to show off his body, smiling as he points to his ribs and says: “lose weight.” Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr on Saturday welcomed the release of Rodwell, congratulating the Philippines on its handling of the case. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gilliard also told a press conference she welcomed the release of Rodwell. “I think all Australians will be very pleased to hear this news and delighted on behalf of the Rodwell family.” The Abu Sayyaf previously released a series of video clips of Rodwell as proof he was still in their custody. In one of the videos, Rodwell said his captors were demanding US$2 million in ransom. After initially denying ransom was paid, Basilan Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul said he saw P4 million or about US$100,000 counted in front of Abu Sayyaf leader Puruji Indama and Roger Gutang, the brother of Rodwell’s wife. Rappler’s sources say a total of P7 million was paid with only P4 million reaching the kidnappers. There are 6 foreigners left behind in Abu Sayyaf hands after Rodwell’s release: Japanese Toshio, European birdwatchers Dutch Ewold Horn and Swiss Lorenzo Vinciguerra, Jordanian Al-Arabiya journalist Baker Atyani and 2 Malaysians, Wai Tung and Jie Tung. *Note: additions later with Rodwell’s families statements

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