An Italian missionary who was abducted at gunpoint in the Philippines by Islamist terrorists has been found alive more than six months on.
Rolando del Torchio, 57, was kidnapped by militants from the Abu Sayyaf group at his pizza restaurant in the city of Dipolog on the island of Mindanao in October last year.
He was rescued by the Filipino military on the island of Jolo last week.
It's unclear whether a ransom was paid for Mr del Torchio's release.
Abu Sayyaf are holding nearly 20 other foreign hostages, most of which have been kidnapped for more than a year.
Mr del Torchio had been missioning in the Philippines for nearly thirty years with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions before opening his restaurant.
He has been released after a day in hospital, looking visibly thinner but in otherwise good health.
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Article by Aaron James
Tola Mbakwe is a multimedia journalist for Premier.
