Sydney (dpa) – An Australian kidnapped in the Philippines was assured Thursday of non-partisan support for efforts to free him. English teacher Warren Rodwell, 53, was taken hostage in Mindanao last month by an unknown group that is asking 2 million US dollars for his freedom. Rodwell's family has released a video in which he pleads for his life. “This is a delicate and dangerous situation with a human life in the balance,” opposition Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott said when backing government efforts on behalf of Rodwell. Kidnapping is common in the southern islands of the Philippines, where Islamist militants, rebels and bandits operate. Australian government policy is not to pay ransom demands in the Philippines or anywhere else. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/NeiP8 Tags: Australia, Kidnapping, Philippines Section: East Asia, Oceana