After 178 days of captivity in the hands of Abu Sayyaf bandits, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) worker, Italian Eugenio Vagni was finally released Sunday, ending peacefully the hostage crisis in Sulu.

Vagni's release came two weeks before President Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. and Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Victor Ibrado, immediately flew to Mindanao at 3:00 a.m. Sunday after being informed of Vagni's release.

Joint Task Force (JTF) Comet commander, Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban said the 62-year-old Vagni was released to Sulu Vice Governor Lady Anne Sahidula at around 12:35 a.m. in barangay Lagasan Asibih,Maimbung town.

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

The red cross worker was reportedly abandoned and was picked up by Sahidula along with elements of JTF Comet and 3rd Marine Brigade. He was brought to Kampo Heneral Bautista in Busbus, Jolo where he underwent medical check-up at the trauma hospital inside the camp.

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

The Italian ICRC worker was scheduled to be brought to Zamboanga City's Western Mindanao Command at 6:00 a.m. where he will be turned  over to Teodoro and Ibrado, who in turn will turn him over to ICRC representaives.

The military said "skillful negotiatiions and incessant pressure by relentles 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.

Vagni was among three ICRC workers seized by Abu Sayyaf bandits in Patikul, Sulu on January 15 while on a humanitarian mission in the province. Aside from Vagni, also held captive by the bandits were Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba, 44, and Swiss Andreas Notter, 38.

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.

On Friday, Ibrado visited Sulu and Basilan. The AFP chief also reportedly had a closed-door-meeting on Saturday with Marines officials who showed him pictures of Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad's two wives who were arrested three hours after Tuesday's bombing in Jolo, which left seven people dead, and at least 50 wounded.

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. The two, along with four others, were arrested for aiding the bandit group. Aksan also had been positively identified to have taken part in the abduction of the three ICRC workers

AFP spokesman, Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, however, denied the alleged prisoner swap, saying Parad's two wives remain in the custody of the AFP.