An Italian engineer, the last Red Cross captive, is believed to have been abandoned by Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu province, the police chief said on Thursday.

The government has offered a reward of P500,000 ($10,256) for information on the whereabouts of 62-year-old Eugenio Vagni, who has difficulty walking due to hernia, Philippine National Police chief General Jesus Verzosa said in a statement.

"We have now received reports that Mr. Vagni was already abandoned by his captors," Verzosa said.

Verzosa said that according to intelligence reports, Vagni was left by his kidnappers led by Albader Parad to another group of Abu Sayaff bandits in the town of Indanan in the island province of Sulu. It was earlier reported that Vagni was being held in a house in an undisclosed location.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said police and military forces last spotted the group of Parad in the town of Talipao.

Puno said the kidnappers broke into three groups to confuse pursuing security forces. Parad's group, which held Vagni for more than three months, fled westward while a small group of seven Abu Sayaff members were with another Red Cross captive, Swiss national Andreas Notter. Last Saturday, Notter was found by policemen in a remote village in Indanan town.

Police and military forces on Wednesday clashed with the bandits holding Vagni, but did not sighted the hostage. Puno said Vagni's safety is the government's "top priority."

Vagni, an Italian national, along with fellow Red Cross workers Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba and Notter were kidnapped last January 15 in Patikul town by Abu Sayyaf bandits. Lacaba was released last April 2 while Notter was found by police and civilian emergency forces last April 18 in Barangay Manilop in Indanan town.

Puno, along with Verzosa, flew to Jolo yesterday morning to meet with Sulu governor Sakur Tan, police and military officials, and other local executives comprising the local crisis management committee to discuss plans regarding Vagni's safe recovery. -- With Manny Mogato, Reuters; ABS-CBN News