Swiss photographer who escaped Abu Sayyaf brought to NCR

After escaping from the Abu Sayyaf, Swiss wildlife photographer Lorenzo Vinciguera is now in Manila for medical treatment.

According to a press statement by the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday, Vinciguera arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on December 6 at 6:20 p.m. through a chartered plane.

He was welcomed by Swiss Ambassador to the Philippines Ivo Sieber, who expressed the embassy's gratitude to the Philippine government, especially the military units in Sulu, before he was brought to an undisclosed hospital for further treatment.

Reports said Vinciguera fatally hacked the neck of Juhurim Hussien, one of the bandit group's sub-leaders, to escape. But he was also shot and injured by Abu Sayyaf members in the process.

The Swiss national was abducted in Tawi-Tawi on February 1, 2012 while on birdwatching expedition with two other wildlife photographers, Dutch national Elwold Horn and Filipino Ivan Sarenas. —Trisha Macas/KBK, GMA News