Policemen rescued Red Cross worker Swiss Andreas Notter in a remote area of Indanan town in Sulu province, after being left behind by fleeing Abu Sayyaf bandits Saturday morning.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said at a press conference at the house of Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan that Notter was recovered by members of the Siasi town police and Civilian Emergency Forces in Barangay Manilop, Indanan.

Police sources told ABS-CBN News that Notter was recovered by policemen around 5:30 a.m. The source said the area was near the vicinity of Barangay Katian.

Puno said the Abu Sayyaf bandits holding Notter and another worker of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 62-year-old Italian Eugenio Vagni, had been moving around the area for the past two days. He said the bandits were being pursued by military and police forces when they hit the security cordon at Barangay Manilop.

"When the police and auxiliary forces saw the group, they gave chase to the kidnappers, and they left behind Mr. Notter because they were not able to drag him with them anymore," Puno told reporters.

"We are fortunate this incident ended without injuries to Mr. Notter," he said, as he commended the people responsible for the ICRC worker's rescue.

Puno said that two days before Notter's escape, members of the Ulama council lost contact with the kidnappers. He said the military decided to "reposition" troops and moved 500 meters near the bandits' lair.

He said the repositioning could have forced the bandits to move around until they were spotted by patrolling troops.

Tan said the Siasi police and police volunteers called him up around 7 a.m. and informed him that they have Notter.

He said the policemen immediately brought the Swiss national to his home in Barangay Asturia in Jolo.

Fatigued but in high spirits

Notter also spoke at the press conference and thanked everybody for the efforts to rescue him and the other Red Cross volunteers.

"I would like to thank you all because I know a lot of you have done a lot of sacrifices... I would like to thank everybody, all our friends, the authorities of course; all the security forces for their efforts. Thank you very much," Notter announced at the press conference.

Puno, who immediately met Notter with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro after arriving from Manila, said the Swiss national was in high spirits, especially after seeing his fellow ICRC volunteers at the governor's home.

He said that aside from losing some weight, Notter seemed fine. However, he said the foreign volunteer was still “a little bit disoriented” and was suffering from fatigue.

“It has just been a few hours away from his rescue. He is still suffering a little bit from shock because of the entire sequence of events over the past days,” he said.

Puno added: “He is happy to see his colleagues from ICRC. He is now convinced that he is finally free, and he can proceed normally from here on.”

Tan said he has not talked with Notter. He said the Swiss national had to be checked by the doctors first and debriefed.

Notter left Sulu with officials from the ICRC and the Philippine National Red Cross. The group arrived at the Zamboanga City airport past 4 p.m. and were reportedly scheduled to fly to Davao.

Daunting task

ICRC spokesperson Anastasia Isyuk told ABS-CBN News Channel that they feel “relieved” by the release of Notter, but they remain concerned about their other colleague, Vagni.

"We remain concerned about the safety of Eugenio, and we remain hopeful that he remains safe and unharmed," Isyuk said.

Malacañang, meanwhile, assured that the government will not stop negotiating and pressuring the Abu Sayyaf bandits for the safe release of the Italian national, who is reportedly sick.

Puno said the military is “now seriously pursuing the release” of Vagni.

“We are challenged, of course, by the daunting task of securing the safe release of the remaining hostage…,” he added.

He said the local government of Sulu and security forces will continue negotiating with the kidnappers while increasing the pressure on the kidnappers.

“We noticed that they are moving around very actively. They are having much difficulty in moving around now,” Puno said, referring to the kidnappers.

The two foreigners, together with fellow ICRC worker, Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba, were leaving the Sulu provincial jail in Patikul town when they were kidnapped by the bandits last January 15.

After imposing a deadline to behead one of the ICRC workers, the bandits released Lacaba to Sulu Vice-Governor Nur-Ana Sahidulla last April 2.

‘Major breakthrough’

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Notter’s release from the bandits raised the government’s hope of recovering the third kidnapped ICRC worker.

“This is a major breakthrough that we hope shall eventually lead to the rescue of the last remaining hostage, Eugenio Vagni,” Remonde said.

Malacañang believes the joint effort of the Ulamas, local government and security forces in Sulu led to Notter’s freedom.

“We commend them all for this outcome,” he said.

Remonde assured the ICRC and the family of the Italian Red Cross volunteer that the government will continue its effort to rescue the remaining victim safely. With reports from Ina Reformina and Ces Drilon, ABS-CBN News