James Rodwell was taken hostage in December 2011 . He was released early Saturday , washed ashore in a Philippine port . His captors were believed to be the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf . Although the Philippine government agreed a preliminary peace deal last year with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front , a leading rebel group in the country 's restive south , some extremists are still active . His family expressed relief after ` ` a very difficult time ''
James Rodwell was taken hostage in December 2011 . He was released early Saturday , washed ashore in a Philippine port . His captors were believed to be the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf . His family expressed relief after ` ` a very difficult time ''