'Ulamas' tapped to free Italian

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  –- Last-ditch efforts are being made to negotiate the release of two remaining Red Cross workers held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf in Indanan, Sulu even as security forces in the area are preparing to launch a rescue operation, officials said yesterday.

The provincial crisis committee led by Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan has allowed a team of ulamas (Islamic clerics) to help negotiate the release of the two hostages.

Tan said the five ulamas would try to persuade the Abu Sayyaf to release International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) volunteers, Swiss national Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni who have been held captive by the bandit group for three months.

Tan expressed concern over the deteriorating health condition of Vagni who is reportedly suffering from hernia and needs immediate medical attention.

“This is our last-ditch effort to secure the safe release of the two hostages as peacefully as possible,” Tan said.

“The emissaries will try to get Vagni because he is very ill,” he said.

Tan said the ulamas were “trying to establish contact” with the Abu Sayyaf since yesterday at Mt. Tukay in Indanan town.

Tan, however, warned that he could not say when the talks would bear fruit. He described the ulama mission as “urgent.”

Notter, Vagni, and a Filipina co-worker Mary Jean Lacaba were abducted while on a humanitarian mission to Jolo on Jan. 15.

Lacaba was released on April 2 but the Abu Sayyaf is still holding the other two hostages and has warned it could behead one of them unless government forces pulled back from around its hideout.

Troops are gearing up for a possible rescue operation after government officials led by Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa had a meeting with Tan and the military led by Anti-terror Task Force Comet chief Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban.

A closed-door emergency meeting was held yesterday but officials stressed a military operation is only the last option if the release of the hostages cannot be obtained.

“We are not considering that yet. They (Abu Sayyaf) should release their hostages first peacefully,” Tan said.

Puno added medical supplies have been sent through the ulamas for Vagni.

“Vagni needs an operation as soon as possible,” Puno stressed.

Puno said Notter had spoken to negotiators by phone recently and told them Vagni was having a very difficult time moving around the jungle.

Puno called on the Abu Sayyaf to free the hostages or at least allow doctors in to assess Vagni’s health.

Confusing situation

Puno also stressed the Abu Sayyaf is trying to confuse the situation.

He said the bandits have not issued any actual demand in exchange for the release of the hostages except for demanding the pullout of the government troops, which he described as “impossible.”

Hostage crisis spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said the crisis committee headed by Tan has decided to seek the help of religious leaders to negotiate the release of the two remaining hostages.

“We believe in the primacy of life of the kidnapped ICRC workers. We remain optimists looking at every possibility of getting the kidnap victims alive without firefight or bloodshed. Hence we are supporting every opportunity for the crisis committee to negotiate for the victims’ safe release,” Arevalo said.

He said the crisis committee remains concerned about the safety of the two hostages if a military operation is launched to rescue them.

“We share the apprehension of the public that once a military operation is resorted to, and given the harsh realities in the areas of operation, the lives of everyone, not only of the kidnap victims, will be in peril,” Arevalo said.

Arevalo stressed the efforts of the ulamas are crucial, especially at a time when the kidnappers have not been clear with their demands and with the health condition of one of the hostages.

Verzosa, for his part, said the PNP is ready to deploy additional forces from the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) and the Special Action Force (SAF) to beef up the security forces in the area if the crisis committee decides to use the military and police to rescue the hostages.

Malacañang clarified the presence of Verzosa in Sulu was only to allow him to witness the actual situation in the negotiation efforts.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Verzosa was there to observe the crisis committee led by Tan.

“I spoke with General Verzosa earlier and he said he arrived in Sulu to get a firsthand situationer on the hostage crisis. We would like to find out from him about the PNP elements working with Task Force Comet,” Ermita said.

Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), urged the government to appoint one negotiator to work for the release of the two ICRC hostages.

Gordon though clarified he would not volunteer for the task.

“I think it’s about time the government gets someone who would really work as negotiator. Not me, I’m not needed there,” Gordon said.

Gordon was criticized for allegedly meddling in the negotiations for the release of the hostages.

Gordon though expressed his opinion that the two hostages would be released soon.

He said the Abu Sayyaf is also concerned with Vagni’s health condition.

“I think, it (release) will happen soon. We just have to work together – the ICRC and the government,” Gordon maintained. 

One of the negotiators, Sulu Vice Gov. Lady Ann Sahidullah, had resigned as member of the crisis committee.

Sahidullah cited her personal safety as a negotiator of the crisis committee and concerns over reports linking her to the Abu Sayyaf.

There were also reports that the police are poised to arrest Sahidullah on suspicions that she was in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf.

PNP Western Mindanao spokesman Superintendent Jose Bayani Gucela, however, clarified they needed Sahidullah to give a statement over the release of Lacaba.

Gucela said they needed a statement from the Sulu vice governor to beef up the criminal charges against the kidnappers.

Gucela though noted Sahidullah did not reply. “Perhaps, she was thinking that since the crisis is not yet over, and she could not give her statement yet,” he said.

Ermita, however, said Sahidullah remains as an emissary of the crisis committee.

According to Ermita, he was able to contact Sahidullah in Zamboanga.

Ermita said Sahidullah denied reports that she abandoned her role in the committee after successfully securing the release of Lacaba.

Sahidullah also played a vital role in securing the release of ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon and her crew, who were held captive by the Abu Sayyaf last May. The following month, Drilon and her crew were released after a hefty ransom was allegedly paid.

Police later arrested Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son Haider, for allegedly benefiting from the ransom. –With James Mananghaya, Sheila Crisostomo, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Marvin Sy, Sheila Laude