Filipino militants free kidnapped Malaysian

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine officials say a Malaysian man has been freed by suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists after a year of jungle captivity in the country’s south.

Sulu provincial Governor Abdusakur Tan said Wednesday that Mohammad Nazarudin bin Saidin was released by suspected Abu Sayyaf members in his province on Friday. It was not immediately clear if any ransom was paid for the victim, a truck driver.

Police say the victim was seized by the gunmen while buying geckos in Sulu’s Indanan township in May last year. Officials say the kidnappers demanded an unspecified ransom but that the victim’s family could not afford the amount, prolonging his detention.

Washington has blacklisted the Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist organization.