AMMAN, Dec. 4 -- Jordan's Foreign Ministry said Jordanian journalist Baker Al Atyani who had been kidnapped in the Philippine province of Sulu was released on Wednesday, the state- run Petra news agency reported.

Sabah Rafi, spokeswoman of the ministry, said the journalist was immediately taken to a hospital in the Philippines for medical check-up.

She also voiced appreciation for the efforts exerted by the Philippine government in this regard.

Al Atyani, who was a Dubai-based reporter with pan-Arabic Al- Arabiya news channel, was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf group in Patikul, Sulu, on June 12, 2012.