Aussie's kidnappers send proof of life

MANILA, Philippines - The kidnappers of an Australian national seized in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay last Dec. 5 have sent “proof of life” to his Filipino wife, a security official said yesterday.

The security official, who asked not to be named as he is not authorized to talk about the case, said the kidnappers, believed to have links with the Abu Sayyaf, also contacted Miraflor Gutang, wife of Australian Warren Richard Rodwell, and informed her of her husband’s situation.

The kidnappers, according to the official, established contact last Dec. 20, saying they would send the proof of life via a commercial freight forwarder.

The package turned out to contain a memory card that had four pictures of Rodwell, one of them showing him with a wound on the right hand.