After 178 days in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) worker Eugenio Vagni was finally released before dawn Sunday.

Vagni is the last of three Red Cross volunteers to be freed after they were abducted by the bandits last Jan. 15 in Sulu.

The Italian Red Cross worker was immediately brought to a military hospital for a medical checkup and then flown to the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City where he was reunited with his wife and child.

The 62-year-old Vagni, an Italian, was released a few days after the military arrested two of the wives of Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad last Tuesday.

Rowena Aksan, alias "Honey", and Nursima Annuden, alias "Simang", Parad's first and third wife, respectively, were reported to have been swapped in exchange for Vagni's safe release. Aksan was alleged to have taken part in the abduction of the three ICRC workers.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. and Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Victor Ibrado immediately flew to Mindanao at 3 a.m. Sunday after being informed of Vagni's release.

Joint Task Force (JTF) Comet commander Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban said the Italian was released to Sulu Vice Gov. Lady Anne Sahidula at around 12:35 a.m. Sunday in Barangay Lagasan Asibih, Maimbung town.

The military said no ransom was paid although a small amount of P50,000 was reportedly given to the Abu Sayyaf for Vagni's "accommodation."

The Red Cross worker was reportedly picked up by Sahidula and elements of JTF Comet and the 3rd Marine Brigade after being abandoned the area. He was brought to the Kampo Heneral Bautista in Busbus, Jolo where he underwent check-up at the trauma hospital.

The AFP said Vagni, who is suffering from hernia, lost weight and was tired but was in relatively good condition.

The military said "skillful negotiations and incessant pressure by relentless operations by members of the security forces won the release of Vagni."

"This becomes the highlight of the nearly six months of combat operations that security forces have mounted since the three ICRC workers were kidnapped in January. Pursuit operations continue to get the remaining ASG kidnappers so that peace will be restored and development works can resume in Sulu," said Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo.

Abu Sayyaf bandits seized Vagni, Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba, 44, and Swiss Andreas Notter, 38, in Patikul, Sulu on January 15 while on a humanitarian mission.

Lacaba was released April 2 after being held hostage for 77 days, while Notter was rescued April 18 in a remote area of Indanan, Sulu after he was left behind by his kidnappers.

Last Friday, Ibrado visited Sulu and Basilan. The AFP chief reportedly had a closed door meeting on Saturday with Marine officials who showed him pictures of Abu Sayyaf leader Parad's two wives who were arrested three hours after Tuesday's bombing in Jolo.

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner denied allegations that the women were swapped for Vagni, saying Parad's two wives remain in military custody.

Vagni thanked Philippine authorities for his safe release. He also expressed sympathy for all those who perished – civilians and soldiers alike – during the course of combat operations to rescue him and the two other ICRC workers.

At Kampo Heneral Bautista where he was brought for initial check up, Vagni reportedly embraced military officers as he thanked them repeatedly.

Vagni was given noodles and ice cream at the hospital.

At around 7 a.m., Vagni, accompanied by Sahidulla, Sabban, and Col. Eugene Clemen, was flown to Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga where he was met by Teodoro and Ibrado and had breakfast with local and military officials.

At around 9 a.m., the aircraft carrying Vagni left for Villamor Air Base where he was turned over to ICRC representatives.

"I thought it would never happen," said Vagni who, after living for almost six months in the jungle with his captors, almost lost hope of ever being set free.

Sahidula said that when Vagni was first told last Friday that he would be released, the Italian refused to believe because he had been told by his captors several times in the past that he would be freed, only to remain in captivity.

As he walked to his freedom on Sunday, Vagni, visibly tired and evidently lost weight, could not hide his joy.

"I am happy because I am free. I thank all the people that led to this happening," Vagni said. "I thought it would never happen."

"I called my wife, and I told her I love you," he said.

His wife, Thai Khwanruean Phungket, and the couple’s child were at Villamor to welcome him, along with Italian Ambassador Ruben Fidele.

The militants originally demanded as much as $2 million for his safe release.

Military and police intelligence reports said several Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists were among those who kidnapped Vagni’s group, including Mauiya, Dulmatin, Zulkifli bin Hir and Umar Patek, who are all wanted by Indonesia for the spate of deadly attacks, including the Bali bombing in 2002. The US has offered at least $16 million in reward for their capture.

The United States considers the Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiyah as foreign terrorist groups alongside Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

The ICRC expressed relief over Vagni’s release.

"He is tired after 179 days in captivity, but given the circumstances is doing remarkably well," Jean-Daniel Tauxe, the head of the ICRC's delegation in the Philippines, said in a statement posted in the ICRC website.

"We would like to express our profound gratitude to all those who have worked so hard in recent months to secure the release of Mary Jean, Andreas and Eugenio," he added. "In particular, we would like to thank the Governor of Sulu, Abdusakur Tan, the Vice Governor of Sulu, Nur-Ana I. Sahidulla, and the Task Force Comet Commander, Major General Juancho Sabban.

“The tremendous efforts of national and local authorities, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police have contributed greatly to the resolution of this long crisis."

The ICRC also expressed concern for the other hostages still being held captive by the rebel group.

Meanwhile, church officials believed Vagni's release would become an instrument for more aid and development in war-torn Mindanao.

"This indeed is a highlight for us people in Mindanao now to work together so that peace and progress can reign in the region," Jolo Bishop Angelito Lampon said in the official website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Lampon said the church appreciates the efforts of the government in securing Vagni's release but he said authorities must “intensify their intelligence coordination so that they could act on all terror threats.”

Malacañang likewise expressed elation over Vagni’s freedom, with Press Secretary Cerge Remonde praising the local crisis management team as well as government troops while insisting that no ransom was paid.

“We are happy about the safe release of Mr. Vagni. We would like to commend the local crisis committee of Sulu, we would like commend our police and military forces and all those who have in one way or another helped in the eventual safe release of Mr. Vagni,” Remonde said.

He said there was no need for President Arroyo to personally meet Vagni, adding that the aid worker would be taken care of by the ICRC.