Popular Post Jollygoodfellow Posted March 23, 2013 Popular Post Posted March 23, 2013 I wonder if he will continue to live in the Philippines? Philippine militants release Australian hostage Australian Warren Rodwell has been released after more than 15 months held hostage in the southern Philippines. Mr Rodwell was abducted from his home in the island of Mindanao in December 2011 by armed men from the militant Abu Sayyaf group. It is not clear how Mr Rodwell was released, but it is understood he walked out of the jungle. The 54-year-old former soldier from Sydney is now in the care of local police and Australia's Deputy Ambassador Andrew Burn. Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr has told ABC News 24 the release is "great news". "I have confirmed he is in a safe place in the company of the number two in our embassy in Manila," he said. "It's a good outcome but I imagine he will take some time to recover from what was a very unsettling experience to say the least." Abu Sayaff had demanded a ransom of $US2 million for Mr Rodwell's release. Senator Carr says the Government did not pay a ransom, but would not comment on whether Mr Rodwell's family did. "Just be clear that the Australian Government never pays ransoms. To do so would leave Australians exposed in all parts of the world to kidnappers who would motivated by a desire to get money and to get it fast from the Australian Government," he said. "We don't pay ransoms. But I won't comment on arrangements that may have been made by Mr Rodwell's family and Abu Sayyaf, made through the Philippines anti-kidnapping unit and their police force." Senator Carr also thanked the Philippines government and local officials for their work in securing Mr Rodwell's release. "The Philippines police were fully commit and engaged on this. Indeed they've got an anti-kidnapping unit and they worked on this very, very hard," he said. "I want to thank the Australian people involved from DFAT, from the Federal Police and from the Australian Defence Forces. "It was an enormously difficult task, given the fact that any untimely move ran the risk of Mr Rodwell being killed." Senator Carr says Mr Rodwell's sister Denise is heading to the Philippines tomorrow. Mr Rodwell's cousin, who only wishes to be identified as Susan, says the family is relieved. "We're really happy and we're really relieved and we're looking forward to getting him back home to Australia," she said. "It's been very stressful for everyone involved." Mr Rodwell, 54, is reportedly physically well despite his ordeal. Photojournalist Nigel Brennan, who was held hostage for 462 days after he was kidnapped in Somalia in 2008, says he is happy for Mr Rodwell and his family. Brennan told ABC News 24 Mr Rodwell may find it hard to overcome his trauma. "I think he will just be excited to have his life back and his freedom again," he said. "Every kidnapping is completely different. "I am sure with Warren being ex-military, he will have kept his head on him [but] he will be going through a myriad of emotions." Mr Rodwell is yet to speak to the media following his release. In a video uploaded to YouTube in December last year, he said he had held "no hope at all" for his release. "I do not trust Abu Sayyaf. I do not trust the Australian Government. I just don't trust anyone. Personally, I don't care," he said in the proof of life video. The southern Philippines has been a volatile region for decades. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs strongly advises Australians to avoid travel there because of the threat of kidnappings and terrorist attacks. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/16429710/australian-hostage-rodwell-may-have-been-freed/ 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curley Posted March 23, 2013 Posted March 23, 2013 Great news Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adventurer Posted March 23, 2013 Posted March 23, 2013 yeah that's great news, surprising but good to hear he got out alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jollygoodfellow Posted March 23, 2013 Author Posted March 23, 2013 yeah that's great news, surprising but good to hear he got out alive. Out but a bit thinner PAGADIAN, Philippines (AFP) - An extremely gaunt but smiling Australian Warren Rodwell walked free on Saturday after 15 months being held captive by Islamic militants in the lawless southern Philippines. Rodwell, a former soldier aged 54, joked with policemen and a journalist who took video footage of him for AFP at Pagadian city police station on Mindanao island, shortly after his kidnappers released him early on Saturday morning. "Lose weight... skeleton," Rodwell said as he smiled in the video, after he took off his T-shirt and pointed at ribs that could be seen hard up against his skin. The Philippine military said Rodwell had been released at Pagadian, a port city about 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of the town where he had been living with his Filipina wife before he was kidnapped on December 5, 2011. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/world/16429816/philippine-militants-free-australian-held-for-15-months/ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adventurer Posted March 23, 2013 Posted March 23, 2013 Out but a bit thinner yeah I noticed that too and that photo he does look thin. I don't know what he was able to eat there but I can imagine it was not a first class meal 3 times a day. Probably rice and a few scraps.... for me this would be the worst part as I like my good food and can trust who is preparing it :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jollygoodfellow Posted March 23, 2013 Author Posted March 23, 2013 Out but a bit thinner yeah I noticed that too and that photo he does look thin. I don't know what he was able to eat there but I can imagine it was not a first class meal 3 times a day. Probably rice and a few scraps.... for me this would be the worst part as I like my good food and can trust who is preparing it :) Usually the hostage has to pay for their meals before release,I guess that the government or someone had to cough up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bootleultras Posted March 23, 2013 Posted March 23, 2013 I wonder what his next step will be too, will he stay? will he move back to Oz? He has more than enough reasons to leave but then again he is not a happy chap with the Aussie government, doesnt trust them! Or Maybe he'll just start over somewhere completely different, I'll be interested to see. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adventurer Posted March 23, 2013 Posted March 23, 2013 Maybe he'll just start over somewhere completely different, I'll be interested to see. I think he has traveled a bit in the past to other Asian countries, I would guess he will end up n Thailand or somewhere.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted March 23, 2013 Posted March 23, 2013 Well I too, could stand to loose a few pounds.... but I shall choose a less drastic method. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum Support Old55 Posted March 23, 2013 Forum Support Posted March 23, 2013 Before 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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