MANILA, Philippines, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- An American teenage boy held captive by a Muslim separatist group in the Philippines for five months made his way to freedom Saturday night, authorities said.
It appeared the 14-year-old boy, Kevin Lunsmann, had escaped from his captors, officials said.
The Philippines' ABS-CBN News reported police said the Virginia teenager had been roaming in the Basilan region after escaping his captors and was brought to authorities after being spotted by local officials.
Zamboanga Mayor Celso Lobregat said the boy ran off when left unguarded and followed a river to Lamitan.
Lobregat said the boy was turned over to U.S. authorities. He said Lunsmann's mother cried and expressed excitement when he talked to her by phone about her son's freedom.
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas thanked the government for its "tireless efforts" to free the teen, ABS-CBN News said.
"Kevin's freedom is not the end of the process, however, and we look for speedy investigation and prosecution of all those involved in the kidnapping of American citizens," Thomas said in a statement.
"I also want to acknowledge the courage of Kevin himself, and his family, throughout this long ordeal."
Lunsmann, his mother and a cousin had been abducted by armed men in Zamboanga City July 12. The boy's mother, Gaerfa Lunsmann, was freed in October and his 19-year-old Filipino cousin, Romnick Jackaria, escaped in November.
Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, a spokesman for the military's Western Mindanao Command, said the boy reached safety about 8:30 p.m. in Lamitan City and was checked out by medical personnel, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.The officer said he had no information about whether any ransom was paid.
"We are still verifying if he escaped or freed. What I can say is he is safe," provincial police chief Alex Lineses told Xinhua.
