Kidnappers of Italian priest raise ransom

The kidnappers of Italian priest Fr. Giuseppi Pierantoni have raised their ransom demand from P8.3 million to P50 million, the military said yesterday.

This developed as President Arroyo and the military ruled out ransom payment for Pierantoni.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Jose Mabanta clarified, however, that the report has yet to be verified.

Military officials maintained that the Muslim secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was involved in the abduction of the 44-year-old foreign missionary.

Mabanta said the information was relayed to some religious leaders who have been helping in the negotiations for the release of the hostage.

"I was told that Commander Ramzi has asked P50 million in exchange for Fr. Pierantoni’s release, although this is still to be confirmed," Mabanta said.

Norman Amil, alias Commander Ramzi, was the suspected leader of the armed group that seized Pierantoni shortly after the priest said Mass at his parish church in the coastal town of Dimataling in Zamboanga del Sur on Oct. 17.

Mabanta refused to name the source of the information and the religious leaders helping secure the freedom of Pierantoni who reportedly fell ill after he contracted amoebiasis while in captivity.

"I can tell you they are not going to get any money for the Italian. They are going to get a chase which is what they are getting now," the President told reporters at Malacañang.

The military has created a special task force to coordinate military efforts to rescue the Italian priest.

Mabanta admitted that they still have to pinpoint the exact place where Pierantoni was being held although the suspected locations have been narrowed down to known MILF strongholds in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and Zamboanga del Sur.

"Until now, we don’t know where he is. There is always a variety of information being relayed to us by the police and the military authorities," said Zamboanga del Sur Bishop Zacarias Jimenez.

The prelate said some sources have tagged a certain Faizal Marohomsar as the mastermind of the kidnap group.

Nonetheless, Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, commander of the Armed Forces’ Southern Command based in Zamboanga City, remained optimistic about the early recovery of Pierantoni.

"It is just a matter of time ... he will be recovered," Cimatu said, but did not elaborate.

Cimatu also denied reports about ransom demands by the kidnappers, saying he will not allow any negotiations for ransom payment.

"We have not received any information about ransom demands, but a group of local leaders are trying to have contacts with the kidnappers to appeal for the victim’s freedom," Cimatu said.

Meanwhile, Mabanta dared the MILF to show its sincerity in talking peace with the government by bringing out their men suspected of complicity in the Pierantoni kidnapping.

Mabanta stressed that while the MILF hierarchy could not be doubted for their willingness to restore peace and order in Mindanao, they should exert efforts to ensure that their field commanders and followers adhere to the truce guidelines. – Paolo Romero, John Unson, Roel Pareño