Escaped Swiss birdwatcher now in Manila — AFP

Swiss national Lorenzo Vinciguerra makes dramatic escape after being held for two years by Abu Sayyaf (image via BBC footage)

MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that Lorenzo Vinciguerra, the Swiss birdwatcher who managed to escape from the hands of his Abu Sayyaf captors, has safely arrived in Manila Saturday night.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, AFP public affairs office chief, said the government facilitated the transport of the victim to Manila.

Military doctors who examined Vinciguerra cleared his immediate travel to Manila late Saturday afternoon.

The chartered plane carrying the victim arrived at Villamor Air Base at 6:20 p.m. where Swiss Embassy officials led by His Excellency Ivo Sieber, the Swiss ambassador to the Philippines, and Philippine military officials led by AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. met him.

At 6:30 p.m., the Swiss Embassy officials brought Vinciguerra to an undisclosed hospital for further treatment.

“The Swiss embassy has expressed its gratitude to the Philippine government, especially the AFP units in Sulu led by Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero for the safe recovery and the immediate evacuation of Mr. Vinciguerra to Zamboanga City and finally, to a safe location in Manila,” Cabunoc said.

Vinciguerra managed to escape from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf bandits at Barangay Timpook, Patikul, Sulu Saturday morning.