Manila  - The Philippine military said Thursday that the recent visit of a local official to three kidnapped staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross was "a step forward" in efforts to free them.

Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres, a military spokesman, said the visit also validated reports that the hostages - Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba - were "still alive" and "not suffering."

The trio were being held captive by al-Qaeda-linked Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels in the jungles of Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila. They were abducted on January 15.

Vice Governor Lady Anne Sahidula of Sulu province, which includes Jolo island, talked with the hostages and their kidnappers during Wednesday's visit.

"It is a step forward in the efforts by the government, including the military and the police, for the safe release of the three," Torres said when asked about Sahidula's visit. "Our optimism increased that they would be released soon."

"We are hoping that something positive would come out from that initial contact with our government officials," he added.

Sahidula said she made the trip because she was alarmed by rumours that the captives had been executed.

"According to rumours, they were executed by their captors," she said. "I was so worried, so I decided to go and find them. After walking for hours, I found them alive, and the rumours were not true. They are OK."

A photograph provided by Sahidula showed Vagni and Lacaba with her. The three hostages looked tired but appeared unharmed and were wearing clean clothes.

"We miss our families," Sahidula quoted the three as telling her.

She said that during her visit, the kidnappers told her "they have no intention to ask for ransom but wanted livelihood assistance and peace." She did not identify the kidnappers.

According to military intelligence sources, the kidnappers were led by Abu Sayyaf commanders Albader Parad and Akmad Jumdail. Parad is a distant relative of Sahidula.

The military sources earlier said the kidnappers were planning to seek 5 million dollars in ransom and unknown political demands for the safe release of the hostages.

Authorities have declined to confirm the reports. The Red Cross said it has not received a ransom demand.

The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for some of the worst terrorist attack in the Philippines.

In 2000, the Abu Sayyaf abducted 21 European tourists and Asian workers from a Malaysian resort island and brought them to Jolo island. The hostages were ransomed off for millions of dollars before they were freed months later.

The following year, a separate band of Abu Sayyaf rebels seized 20 Filipino vacationers and three American tourists from a western Philippine resort. Most of the hostages were later rescued or ransomed off, but two of the Americans were killed. (dpa)