Bossi fears more abductions of foreigners in Mindanao

After regaining his freedom, Italian missionary Giancarlo Bossi expressed fear that more foreigners would be kidnapped in Mindanao unless drastic measures are taken by authorities.

According to Bossi, kidnappers pick foreigners like him in the effort to raise more money for their illicit activities.

“My kidnappers are no longer interested in taking the locals as they now want to take foreigners like me,” Bossi said.

Bossi said he believed the kidnapping of foreigners in the South is being orchestrated by a man whom his kidnappers addressed as “Ustadz.”

He claimed Ustadz was the leader of the armed group that snatched him in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay last June 10.

“I have been asking many questions (to the kidnappers) and I believe Ustadz organized my kidnapping,” he said.

Bossi was not the only foreigner snatched in the Zamboanga Peninsula. His two Italian priest-colleagues were also kidnapped in the region several years ago.

Only months ago, it was learned that a Canadian was also kidnapped in the Zamboanga Peninsula, but the incident never got the attention of the national media.

Looking frail and with blood pressure of 160 over 100, Bossi said he believed the promise of his kidnappers that they would not take him again.

Bossi also revealed his kidnappers merely wanted him in order to raise money to buy arms.

“They told me that they are preparing for something, which I don’t know. But they promised me that they would never take me again,” he said.

Bossi said his abductors, who introduced themselves as members of the Abu Sayyaf, had told him that his kidnapping was part of the ongoing jihad (holy war).

Despite his ordeal, Bossi called on his fellow missionaries to come to the Philippines and serve Filipino communities.

“Despite what had happened to me, I really love the Filipinos and I will continue to love them. I am really grateful to them since I know that even before I was released, their sense of solidarity was too strong, that all of them wanted me to soon surface,” he said.      

‘Feeling great’

Bossi said he would return to Payao next week to personally thank his parishioners for their prayers and thoughts before he flies home to Italy.

Bossi said he is looking forward to celebrating Mass with his parishioners in Payao following his release.

He said he plans to spend the summer months in the mountains of Italy with his family, and would like to thank those who pressed for his release, including those in his hometown near Milan.

“If I have some time, I am happy also to have a retreat,” he said.

Bossi was able to have a good night’s sleep Friday – his first real rest since the flurry of activities that followed his release late Thursday.

“I feel great. The whole day I am just resting here. But it feels to be good to be surrounded with people in normal circumstances, without any fear whatsoever,” he said while sitting in one of the rooms inside the compound of the Mary Queen of the Apostles Parish in Barangay Sun Valley, Parañaque City.

“All the time I was being held prisoner, I was thinking of the people I truly love, those who really matter to me. It was like having flashbacks in my mind – the memories of my childhood, my family and the things I used to do,” he said.

Bossi said he also wished to join his friend in Italy who had organized a bicycle ride activity for him to celebrate his release.

He said he would return to the Philippines after taking a vacation to Italy to serve his parishioners again in Payao.

Asked if was reading stories about him in the newspapers, Bossi said he only gets the news from his friends who read the papers.

“I have poor eyesight especially with small printed words. I lost my glasses when I was kidnapped. Maybe I left it in the area,” he added. – Jaime and Rhodina Villanueva