‘It was a miracle of prayer’

Italian priest Giuseppe Pierantoni, who was released under mysterious circumstances by his kidnappers before dawn yesterday in a remote village in Zamboanga del Sur, attributed his new-found freedom to the "miracle of prayer."

"They prayed for what happened to me," a tired and frail Pierantoni said when presented to President Arroyo at Malacañang a few hours after he was found by government troops.

"I am a bit confused and also very tired because yesterday, we walked for 12 hours to the camp and I believe after six months that I lived in the forest there trying to escape the police and military, that there was a miracle to get me free without any harm, without any particular suffering," the 45-year-old priest said.

He thanked God and the Philippine government, as well as all the people who supported him during his six-month ordeal.

"Thanks to Divine Mercy that after the intense battle in the whole of Mindanao, at last, we have saved Father Pierantoni," the President said in reaction to Pierantoni’s recovery.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines expressed elation over the development.

"We join his congregation, the Priests of the Sacred Heart, in this intense feeling of relief as we have prayed hard for his safe return," said CBCP secretary general and spokesman Msgr. Hernando Coronel.

"We continue to pray for the captors of Father Pierantoni."

He also said the CBCP remained concerned about the precarious peace and order situation in Mindanao. "Many Church people –clergy, religious and lay –have sacrificed and given up so much, some even their lives, to attain that elusive peace in that region."

For his part, Bishop Antonio Ledesma of Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur supported Mrs. Arroyo’s order to destroy all kidnapping syndicates in the country.

"That’s a good move from the administration. It shows they are serious in eradicating kidnapping," Ledesma said.

The prelate indicated, however, that he doubted the authorities’ claim that no ransom was paid over Pierantoni’s release.

"There should be a full investigation to determine that no money was involved," he stressed.

Abu Sayyaf guerrillas raided Ledesma’s town of Ipil on April 4, 1995 leaving at least 50 people dead and scores of others wounded.