Ten Indonesian sailors abducted by Abu Sayyaf terrorist militants were freed in the southern Philippines on Sunday after five weeks in captivity, Philippine police said.

Ten Indonesian sailors abducted by Abu Sayyaf terrorist militants were freed in the southern Philippines on Sunday after five weeks in captivity, Philippine police said.

Unknown men dropped off the 10 tugboat crewmen at the home of provincial governor Abdusakur Tan Jnr on the remote island of Jolo during a heavy midday downpour, Jolo police chief Junpikar Sitin told AFP by telephone.

"The report (of their release) is confirmed. They were there. I saw them," Superintendent Sitin added.

The condition of the former captives was not immediately known, though Sitin said the group ate lunch at the governor's home.

They were abducted on March 26 by gunmen described by Philippine authorities as members of the Abu Sayyaf, a small group of militants based on Jolo and nearby Basilan island which is accused of kidnappings and deadly bombings.