MANILA — The Abu Sayyaf militant group freed a Norwegian hostage in the southern Philippines on Saturday, the police said, almost a year after he was seized along with two Canadians who were later beheaded.

The Norwegian man, Kjartan Sekkingstad, was released after the Islamist militant group received a ransom of about 30 million pesos, or roughly $630,000, the national police said in a statement.

Mr. Sekkingstad was freed near the town of Indanan in the province of Sulu, and escorted to the home of the provincial governor. There was no immediate word on the state of his health.

His release was facilitated by members of the Moro National Liberation Front, a former rebel group that signed a peace agreement with the government in the 1990s, the police said.