Red Cross staffer abducted in Philippines is freed

(CNN) - A Red Cross staffer abducted in the Philippines earlier this year has been released, Italian government and Red Cross officials confirmed on Saturday.

Eugenio Vagni, who was freed on Saturday, is the last of three International Committee of the Red Cross staffers to be released from captivity after they were kidnapped in January.

"We're delighted that he is released," said ICRC spokeswoman Anna Nelson. "It is wonderful news."

The three were abducted on the island of Sulu, in the far southwestern part of the Philippines.

The ICRC has identified the kidnappers as being from the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to the al Qaeda terrorist network.

The ICRC said it didn't know how he was released, but Nelson said a ransom was not paid, a policy of the organization. There was phone contact between the ICRC and the three hostages before they were released.