Abus kill Sulu police chief, 3 others

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Abu Sayyaf bandits holding Italian Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni captive killed the provincial police director of Sulu and three others, including his brother, in an ambush yesterday, officials said.

Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim, his brother Raslin and two escorts, identified as SPO3 Asbi Juammahari and SPO3 Abdurajan, were gunned down by Abu Sayyaf militants near Maimbung town, said Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police director. Four others were wounded in the attack.

Reports said Abu Sayyaf leader Sakul Sahil and four of his men were killed in the ensuing firefight.

Jabarani said Kasim’s group was taking part in an ongoing operation to rescue Vagni, the last of three Red Cross hostages still in the hands of the militants.

Jabarani said Kasim was to meet up with troops involved in the rescue operation when he was waylaid.

Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan ordered the rescue effort last month after negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf for the release of Vagni failed and the 62-year-old Red Cross worker’s health continues to deteriorate in the jungle. Vagni is suffering from hypertension and needs surgery for hernia.

Vagni and fellow Red Cross workers Andreas Notter of Switzerland and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba were kidnapped last Jan. 15 after inspecting a jail water supply project in Jolo, Sulu.

Lacaba was freed April 2. Notter walked free more than two weeks later as police pursued the Abu Sayyaf members holding him.

Alain Aeschlimann, Asia-Pacific operations chief of the International Committee of the Red Cross, has reported that Vagni was able to call his family last week.

“As ever, we remain very worried about Eugenio,” he said in a statement last week. – Roel Pareño, Jaime Laude, John Unson and AP