MANILA: The relatives of an Australian man freed after being held hostage for 15 months by Islamic militants in remote islands of the southern Philippines called Monday for his captors to be brought to justice.
Warren Rodwell's elder sister and brother also thanked Philippine and Australian authorities for securing his release, although no mention was made of a reported $100,000-ransom payment that ensured he walked free.
"We would like to acknowledge in particular the Philippine National Police for all their efforts, on Warren's behalf," Rodwell's sister, Denise Cappello, told reporters in Manila.
"We wish the Philippine police every success in tracking down the group that took Warren from his home. We hope they will be brought to justice so others won't have to experience what Warren has just been through."
Armed men posing as police abducted Rodwell, 54, from his home in a coastal town of the southern Philippines in December, 2011, and demanded $2 million for his safe release.
The militants freed a deeply emaciated Rodwell on Saturday, and he has since remained at a Philippine military base where he is receiving medical care.
Authorities say the Abu Sayyaf, a small group of militants based in lawless islands of the southern Philippines and designated by the US government as a terrorist organisation, was responsible for the kidnapping.
The Abu Sayyaf has a long history of kidnapping foreigners, as well as local businessmen, in efforts to extort ransoms that security analysts have netted the group millions of dollars.
The militants, who are believed to be holding at least three other foreigners, have survived efforts lasting more than a decade by Filipino and US troops to eliminate them.
The Abu Sayyaf is able to operate in often lawless islands of the southern Philippines with the help of local Muslim communities.
The Philippine and Australian governments have refused to confirm if any ransom was paid to secure Rodwell's released.
However, while not commenting on the ransom issue, Cappello singled out for thanks Al Rashid Sakalahul, the vice governor of the southern Basilan island that is one of the Abu Sayyaf's strongholds.
Sakalahul was one of the main negotiators with the Abu Sayyaf and told reporters on the weekend that Rodwell's family paid four million pesos ($97,750) to secure his release.
Sakalahul said on Monday that he was often the pointman for ransom negotiations with the militants.
"I have helped many local kidnap victims in the past. But not involving as much money," he told ABS CBN television.
"They (the militants) call it 'board and lodging' for those who they have taken care of, taken captive."
Cappello and Rodwell's older brother, Wayne, read statements at a hotel that did not refer to the ransom issue, and did not take questions from journalists.
Wayne Rodwell said the family's most immediate concern was for his brother's health.
"He is delighted to be free. He has however lost a lot of weight and is exhausted. He will need medical support as well as time and space to recover," he said.
The head of the national police force's anti-kidnapping unit, Senior Superintendent Renato Gumban, told reporters that Rodwell was due to be flown to Manila on Monday afternoon.
Gumban said he would receive more medical attention in Manila before being asked to give a thorough debriefing of his ordeal.
He said Rodwell, who had been living with his Filipina wife in the southern Philippines for less than a year before he was kidnapped, intended to return to Australia. (AFP)
