Medicine, personal effects sent to 3 kidnapped Red Cross workers - ICRC

Packages of medicine and personal effects have been sent to three Red Cross workers being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf in the jungles of Sulu.

However, Alain Aeschlimann, International Committee on Red Cross operations head for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, did not say to whom the packages were delivered.

“Health information is private and personal,” read the statement.

“Nobody would want to have their medical history made available around the world. According to our conversations with the three, they are in good health.”

In a statement on the ICRC website, Aeschlimann said Mary Jean Lacaba, Eugenio Vagni and Andreas Notter have received the package, which included some books.

“We provided the materials to the local authorities in Jolo on Sulu island on Saturday afternoon,” read the statement.

“We don’t know the precise details of how it reached them but we are happy that it did,” he noted.

Aeschlimann said the three told the ICRC via telephone over the weekend that they were “doing fine.”

“We admire their strength of character and bravery in enduring this difficult situation,” read the statement.

“Their families and loved ones, who miss them very much, are also showing real stoicism. Eugenio, Mary Jean and Andreas are constantly in our thoughts.”

Abus threaten to harm captives

In Sulu, the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers of three Red Cross workers have threatened to harm their captives unless the Marines pull back from Indanan town.

The warning was made by Abu Sayyaf leaders Radullan Sahiron, Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu Pula and Albader Parad, according to a town official in Indanan privy to the situation.

Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, anti-terror Task Force Comet commander, and his men are running after the Abu Sayyaf.

“The commanders said they will not hesitate to harm one of their hostages if the military will insist on their presence in the area,” the town official said.

Task Force ICRC could not be reached to confirm nor deny the reported threat of the Abu Sayyaf.

In a letter to President Arroyo sent via Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, the Abu Sayyaf demanded that Marines withdraw to neighboring Jolo town.

Tan said they still have to verify the personalities who signed the letter.

In Camp Aguinaldo, Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said the Marines will not be pulled out of Indanan.

“That is ridiculous, that is impossible… who is the one calling for the pullout of our troops in Sulu and Basilan, the Abu Sayyaf Group?” he said.

“Why would we listen to them, they are terrorists, we don’t listen to terrorists. We will go after them.”

The military would never negotiate with terrorists, Torres added.

Authorities contacting kidnappers of teachers

In Basilan, authorities are establishing contact with the kidnappers of the three public school teachers to negotiate for their freedom.

Basilan Vice Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul, Provincial Crisis Management Committee head, said they are in the process of identifying those who are holding Janette de los Reyes, Rafael Mayonado and Freires Quizon.

“There has been no negotiation for the victims yet since we have to establish where the victims are being held and who are the kidnappers holding the victims right now. At the moment what we can do is appeal to the kidnappers to release those captives because the students they were teaching have been badly affected,” he said.

They are also trying to establish contact with the kidnappers who initially made a ransom demand of P6 million for the three victims, Salakahul said.

Meanwhile, police officers with education degrees will act as substitutes for the kidnapped teachers and other teachers who have not reported for duty in schools in Barangay Landang Guan, according to Western Mindanao police commander Chief Supt. Angelo Sunglao.

Businessman kidnapped

A businessman was kidnapped in Sulu the other day, the military said yesterday.

Lt. Stephanie Cacho, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokeswoman, said Diongin Que, owner of Leng’s Restaurant in Barangay Kakuyagan in Jolo, was snatched by five unidentified gunmen at around 5:30 p.m.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Torres said they have received reports that kidnapping gangs in Jolo are colluding with the Abu Sayyaf in their criminal activities.

“(The public) should be conscious of what is happening around them, and help us in our campaign to curb kidnapping,” he said.   – With Roel Pareño, James Mananghaya