Kidnappers in the southern Philippines freed a Filipino-Chinese businessman and his 10-year-old daughter after ransom was allegedly paid, officials said Monday, dpa reported.
Wilson Tan, 50, and his daughter Jennifer were released by their captors in Talayan town in Maguindanao province, 930 kilometres south of Manila, on Sunday evening.
They were kidnapped just outside their house in nearby Cotabato City on February 19.
Army Colonel Domingo Gubway said that based on unconfirmed reports, the family paid ransom for the release of the hostages.
"There maybe ransom money involved, but we have no idea as to the amount," he said.
The kidnappers earlier demanded 40 million pesos (833,000 dollars) in ransom, but they later lowered the amount to 1 million pesos to cover "board and lodging" expenses.
City Mayor Muslimin Sema said the victims were released "because of continuous military and police pressure" on the kidnappers, who were believed to have been led by a Muslim bandit leader.
A series of kidnappings have occurred in the southern region of Mindanao since last month.
On Jolo island, three staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross are being held captive by al-Qaeda-linked Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels on Jolo island since January 15.
In nearby Basilan province, a Sri Lankan peace advocate, three Filipino teachers and a 9-year-old boy were separately abducted by suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels since last month.