Naval forces sent to pressure Red Cross kidnappers

SURIGAO CITY – Naval security forces have been deployed to Sulu to put pressure on the kidnappers of three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) volunteers to free their hostages.

Heavy rains and mud did not dampen the spirits of troops deployed to track down the kidnappers of Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipina engineer Marie Jean Lacaba.

Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NAVwest) commander Commodore Alexander Pama said naval forces have been deployed to complement the troops under anti-terror Task Force Comet chief Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban who are leading the military’s effort to rescue the hostages.

“All sea, air and ground movements are being closely coordinated with General Sabban to prevent any incidents that might jeopardize the safety of the hostages,” Pama said.

The military was told by the inter-agency committee to hold back the offensive against the kidnappers so as not to compromise the safety of the hostages.

The committee led by Task Force ICRC (TF-ICRC) under Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan also imposed a news blackout on developments in the rescue efforts.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Alexander Yano said the reported request for a suspension of military operations to allow peaceful negotiations for the safe release of the hostages has not yet been sent to them.

“We will just wait for whatever recommendation that the interagency body will give us, but as of now the effort still continues and there is no plan whatsoever to stop those operations,” he said.

Yano stressed the military has to be aggressive and put more pressure on rescue efforts to restrict the movements of the kidnappers, believed to be Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Albader Parad.

At the same time, the military denied reports that Parad demanded a P5-million ransom for the hostages.

“If ever there is really negotiation, ransom has never been mentioned,” Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga said.

“There is no ransom. Let’s hope that the victims will be safely rescued or released by the abductors,” he added.

Yano said they have positive developments on the rescue efforts but declined to elaborate, citing security reasons.

“It is a whole operation working together not only in the combat aspect. Paramount is the safety of the victims,” Allaga stressed.

Allaga said the rescue operation has been going on even after the kidnappers demanded a stop to military operations against them.

“The military operation (against the kidnappers) is continuously going on (and) we are sustaining it,” Allaga said.

Allaga stressed they would not pull back from their campaign against the terrorists in the province.

He said Task Force Comet has enough troops to hunt down the kidnappers.

A senior military official, meanwhile, disclosed that troops are already closing in on the kidnappers, awaiting orders for the actual rescue of the hostages.

He refused to reveal the area of operations but said the kidnappers have no option left but to release the hostages.

“It will just be a matter of time. This kidnapping will soon end, “ he said.   –With James Mananghaya, Roel Pareño