Vagni returns to Italy

MANILA, Philippines - Italian Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni, freed last Sunday by his Abu Sayyaf kidnappers after six months in captivity in Sulu, left for Italy yesterday morning.

Vagni, his wife Kwan and two-year-old daughter Letticia were escorted by Italian embassy officials led by Ambassador Reubens Fedele and Ninoy Aquino International Airport police when they boarded a KLM flight to Italy via Amsterdam and Bangkok at around 10 a.m.

The Italian aid worker said he is willing to return to the Philippines, but he will now rest in Italy and stay with family and friends.

Abu Sayyaf bandits kidnapped Vagni and two other International Committee of the Red Cross workers, Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba and Swiss Andreas Notter in Indanan, Sulu last Jan. 15. Lacaba and Notter were released on separate dates in April.

Vagni said that he had spoken with his relatives by phone hours after his release.

He holds no bitterness against his captors and the Filipino people. He said he learned a lot from his experience and realized the things that are more important in life.

“I lost some 20 kilos,” he said, adding that he was even thinner, practically skin and bones, three months ago. Aside from dealing with hernia in captivity he was also stricken with cholera, he said.

Vagni said that he thought he would die until medicine was brought to him. Vagni said a Filipino, whom he did not identify, took care of him.

“It was a miracle that I was able to recover from cholera,” said Vagni.

Government officials denied that ransom was paid for Vagni’s release.

Sources claimed that Vagni was swapped for the two detained wives of Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad. The Marines earlier arrested the two wives at a military checkpoint in Jolo, Sulu last Tuesday.

Parad turned Vagni over to Sulu Vice Gov. Lady Ann Sahidula who also denied that ransom was paid.

Sahidula, however, confirmed that she gave the kidnappers P50,000 as “goodwill” money.