Authorities confirm new proof of life of Vagni

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Police and military authorities have acquired new proof of life of Italian Eugenio Vagni, the last Red Cross worker in Abu Sayyaf hands.

Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, Joint Task Force Comet anti-terror unit commander, said they are positive that Vagni, who has been in captivity for almost six months, is “very much” alive and that efforts to rescue him are continuing.

“There has been no fresh contact engagement by our forces against the kidnappers,” he said. “However, we are sure that Vagni is alive.”

Director Felizardo Serapio, Directorate for Integrated Police Operation Western Mindanao chief, said the “new proof of life” was acquired last week.

However, he did not say how they were able to secure the latest proof of life for security reasons.

Serapio said there are some developments in the negotiation for the safe release of Vagni, but the efforts have been hampered by the operations aimed at pressuring the kidnappers to free the victim.

“We can feel there are some new developments that have been happening for the safe recovery of Mr. Vagni,” he said.

However, the rescue operation will not be halted to pressure the kidnappers, led by Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad and Umbra Jumdail, who had entrusted their captive to a smaller group to divert pursuing troops, Serapio said.

Vagni, 62, was snatched along with two other Red Cross workers – Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba and Swiss Andreas Notter – last Jan. 15 after they visited a water sanitation project in the Sulu provincial jail in Patikul town.

Lacaba and Notter were freed separately last April 2 and April 18.

Marines sent to Palawan

A battalion of Marines and three attack seacraft were sent yesterday to Palawan to fight terrorists and kidnappers.

Navy chief Vice Adm. Ferdinand Golez personally led the sendoff for the 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team at Navy headquarters in Roxas Boulevard, Manila yesterday.

“The deployment of troops and our floating assets is in response to the requirements of higher headquarters to address the need for increased tempo of operations in our operational area,” he said.

Another Navy gunboat would be deployed to Davao in support of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) internal security operations.

The Marines already have two brigades fighting the Abu Sayyaf and other criminals in Sulu and another brigade to fight terrorists and kidnappers in Basilan. – Roel Pareño, Jaime Laude