Police claimed no ransom was paid for the release of Hazumitsu Hashiba, 48, who arrived in the country two months ago to visit his Filipino wife in the coastal town of Lanuza.
Police said the hot pursuit by a combined police-military team forced the kidnappers to abandon Hashiba on Dinagat Island in Surigao del Norte.
The kidnappers earlier demanded P2-million ransom, reports said. — Christina Mendez