Philippine troops rescued US hostage Mr Jeffrey Schilling from over seven months' captivity after a gun battle today with his Muslim rebel captors, the military said.
Mr Schilling is in good condition, armed forces chief General Diomedio Villanueva said.
Gen Villanueva said Mr Schilling was freed by government troops at around 2 p.m. (local time) after a brief gun-fight with the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas who have held him on the nearby island of Jolo, about 960 kilometres south of Manila, since August 28th.
Other officials said the rebels suffered some casualties in the battle, but there were no immediate details. Mr Schilling was rescued 10 days after President Ms Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered an all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf.
Ms Arroyo's order was prompted by the rebels' warning that they would behead Mr Schilling on her birthday, April 5th, unless Manila agreed to allow them negotiate with Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the country.