MANILA - More than five months since he was taken captive by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu with two other International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers, negotiations for the release of Eugenio Vagni continue.

Vagni, a 62-year-old Italian, was kidnapped in Patikul town on January 15, 2009 with 44-year-old Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba and 38-year-old Swiss Andreas Notter while they were on a humanitarian mission in Sulu.

The group of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader Albader Parad is reportedly behind the kidnapping. This is the same group responsible for the kidnapping of ABS-CBN News anchor Ces Drilon and two other network employees in June 2008.

Task Force Comet chief Major Juancho Sabban and Sulu Governor Sakur Tan said on Saturday negotiations for Vagni's release are on-going,

Sabban said Vagni's release is imminent.

Tan said communication lines with the bandit group remain open more than five months since the ICRC workers were taken captive in Sulu.

The ICRC issued a new appeal this week for Vagni's release. It has also said it is not involved in negotiations or offering ransom for Vagni's freedom.

Lacaba was released by the kidnappers on April 2 after 77 days in captivity.

Notter walked to freedom nearly two weeks later, on April 18, amid intense military operations in Indanan, Sulu.

The government crisis committee, headed by Tan, had commissioned the help of a group of ulamas or Muslim religious leaders to secure the release of Vagni.

On April 23, the Italian hostage was reportedly abandoned by his captors to another group.

Intelligence reports revealed Vagni had difficulty walking due to hernia. Physicians had voiced concern his medical condition could be serious and needed immediate medical attention

In February, the ICRC task force issued a bulletin saying the Italian captive was also suffering from hypertension, and that medicines were delivered to the hostages.

Throughout this crisis, the ICRC had repeatedly appealed for Vagni and the two other hostages' safe and unconditional release.

There were reports the Abu Sayyaf Group demanded ransom in exchange for their freedom.

There had been threats to behead the hostages if the military continued its operations in the province. In a letter, Dr. Abu, Kumander Putol, and Kumander Albader Parad had demanded a stop to military operations in Indanan, Sulu and the withdrawal of government forces from 14 Sulu villages in 4 towns in exchange for the kidnapped workers' freedom.

But the military rejected the demand for a troop pullout. -- reports from ABS-CBN News Channel; Ces Drilon, ABS-CBN News