Australian hostage Warren Rodwell freed by his captors in the Philippines ... - The Australian

Ex Soldier and Australian citizen Warren Rodwell has been released by al-Qaida-linked captors who were holding him hostage in the Philippines for over one year.

• Warren Rodwell reportedly freed after 15 months


• Taken captive by al-Qaida-linked group Abu Sayyaf


• Who is Warren Rodwell?

AUSTRALIAN Warren Rodwell has been freed by his captors in the southern Philippines almost 15 months after he was taken hostage.

Mr Rodwell, from Sydney, was taken hostage by notorious al-Qaida-linked group Abu Sayyaf on December 5, 2011.

A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr has confirmed Mr Rodwell's release.

Mr Rodwell is under the guard of the Philippines national police and Australia's deputy ambassador to the Philippines Andrew Burn.

They are currently travelling to an urban area from the small village Mr Rodwell was being held in.

Warren Rodwell appears in a video released as proof of life by his captors last year.

Senator Carr said the former soldier was released in Pagadian City overnight.

"This is great news for Mr Rodwell and his family," he said.

He said the Rodwell family had shown "enormous courage" throughout the ordeal.

"All Australians would wish them well as Mr Rodwell recovers from his 15 months in captivity," he said.

Posted on Dec 26, 2012 Warren Rodwell is an Australian national who was kidnapped in southern Philippines last year

Senator Carr congratulated the Philippines government, particularly the National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group, for their professionalism and dedication in securing Mr Rodwell's release.

"The Philippines government had the lead role in this case and deserve congratulations for their tireless efforts on Mr Rodwell's behalf," he said.

Mr Rodwell's release was also a credit to Australian officials in Manila and Canberra, including from DFAT, the Australian Federal Police and Defence, Senator Carr said.

"The focus now is on Mr Rodwell's speedy recovery."

Australian Warren Rodwell, in a new proof-of-life photo issued by kidnappers in the Philippines. Picture: Facebook

Australian Photojournalist Nigel Brennan, who was kidnapped in Somalia in 2008 and held hostage for 462 days, was glad to hear of Mr Rodwell's release.

"I hope todays(sic) news of Warren Rodwell's release is true. 15 months in isolation as a hostage is something a person should never have 2 endure," he tweeted.

A photo and short video from a journalist on the scene this morning showed a gaunt but smiling Warren Rodwell, aged in his 50s, at the police station, sitting alongside two policemen.

The kidnappers, members of the Abu Sayyaf militant group, had released at least four video clips of the Australian as proof that he was in their custody.

In one of the videos, Mr Rodwell said his captors were demanding $US2 million ($A1.93 million) in ransom. Late last year video of Mr Rodwell was posted on YouTube as proof he was alive.

Mr Rodwell settled down in Ipil with his Filipina wife, Miraflor Gutang, in 2011, according to local authorities. He had worked as a teacher in China before marrying Gutang, who he met on the internet.

Mr Rodwell was abducted in southern Zamboanga Sibugay province by several armed men who were believed to have fled in speedboats.

Bloodstains were found at the coastal home from which he was taken. A search of nearby islands failed to find him.

The Abu Sayyaf, a small band of militants, is one of many armed Islamist groups operating in the southern Philippines. It has been blamed for the worst terror attacks in Philippine history and has a long history of kidnapping foreigners, Christians and local business people for ransom.

The group was set up in the troubled region in the early 1990s with funding from the Al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden and was initially led by a Filipino militant who fought against Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s.

- with Daniel Piotrowski