‘I am happy to be alive and free’ – Sekkingstad

PRESIDENT Duterte on Sunday night met with freed Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad in Davao City.

“Your travails in life are over,” Duterte told Sekkingstad during their meeting.

“I am happy to be alive and free,”  Sekkingstad , who lost a lot of weight and looking pale, told reporters in a brief statement after he was presented to Duterte. “This is a beautiful feeling,”

He and the Norwegian ambassador are scheduled to fly out of the country for Norway at 10 p.m. Sunday.

Sekkingstad was freed in Patikul town in Sulu province and was eventually secured by rebels from the larger Moro National Liberation Front, which has signed a peace deal with the government and helped negotiate his release, government officials said.

Abu Sayyaf extremists on Saturday freed the Norwegian man kidnapped on Sept. 21, 2015 on Samal Island with two Canadians who were later beheaded and a Filipino woman who has been released by the ransom-seeking militants, officials said. With a report from AP

Released Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad, second right, stands next to Moro National Liberation Front Chairman Nur Misuari, right, after being turned over by ransom-seeking Abu Sayyaf extremists in Indanan township on Jolo island in southern Philippines Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Sekkingstad, who was kidnapped last year along with two Canadians and a Filipino, was released Saturday and was turned over Sunday to Misuari, who in turn turned him over to Presidential adviser Jesus Dureza. (AP Photo/Nickee Butlangan)