Australian National Rodwell freed by his abductors after 15 months of captivity

On or about 1:30 dawn of March 23, 2013 the Australian National Warren Richard Rodwell was freed by his abductor in the coastal area near Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in baranay Sta. Lucia following the successful negotiation conducted in Basilan province.

The Abu Sayyaf Group who is known to be a Kidnapped for Ransom Syndicate in the southern part of Mindanao was identified as responsible of kidnapping of Rodwell on December 5, 2011 while he was at his residence at Barangay Sanito in Ipil town Zamboanga Sibugay.

Kidnapped Warren Richard Rodwell together with the P/Inspector Eurem Jay Macasil, Chief of the 903rd Maritime Police Station, based in Pagadian City Port.

The former soldier Rodwell 54 years old had worked as a teacher in China before his marriage to a Filipina Miraflor Gutang. Rodwell settled in Ipil with his wife in 2011.

The Australian National was brought by City Police Chief Senior Superintendent Julius Muñez to Pagadian City Police Station after he was seen and turn-over to them by the concern citizen.

Kidnapped Australian National Warren Richard Rodwell while at the Pagadian City Police Staion.

"Lose weight... skeleton," Rodwell said as he smiled in the video, after he took off his T-shirt and pointed at ribs that could be seen hard up against his skin.

 Rodwell joked with policemen and a journalist who took video footage of him for AFP at Pagadian City police station on Mindanao Island, shortly after his kidnappers released him early on Saturday morning.

Rowell was formally turn-over to the Anti-Kidnapped for Ransom Task Group headed by P/Supt Jeff E. Ganged and to the Australian Embassy personnel. The kidnapped victim was flown immediately to Zamboanga City by the U.S military board N214Eb (Evergreen) chopper at 5:00 early morning.

Kidnapped Warren Richard Rodwell feeling at home while at the Pagadian City Police Staion.