Military mounts pressure on ICRC officials' abductors

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The military is building up its forces to put on pressure on the Abu Sayyaf to release the three officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) they kidnapped in Sulu last month.

Anti-terror Task Force chief Maj. Gen Juancho Sabban said troops are just awaiting orders to launch operations for the rescue of Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni, and Filipina Marie Jean Lacaba who, reports said, are safe and being treated well.

Sabban said they are just awaiting word from the Sulu provincial crisis management committee to use the “military option” to end the month-old hostage crisis.

Sabban said the Abu Sayyaf’s demand for the military to pull back from Sulu showed that the bandit group has started to feel the pressure.

The Abu Sayyaf led by Radulan Sahiron, Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu Pula and Albader Parad wanted the military to withdraw before any negotiations for the release of the three hostages would take place.

The bandits also wanted Vice President Noli de Castro and other personalities to negotiate with them for the release of the hostages.

De Castro said his office was verifying this, adding that “if there is any way I can help in obtaining their freedom, I am ready to extend that help.”

Malacañang, however, said the Abu Sayyaf is in no position to dictate on the government who to negotiate with in exchange for the release of the hostages.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said only the crisis management committee in Sulu is authorized to deal with the Abu Sayyaf for the safe return of the three ICRC executives.

‘We should not glorify and glamorize these (Abu Sayyaf) people by giving in to their demands as to who they would want to negotiate with. I think that could be a very bad policy to do so,” Remonde said.

Sabban said they would not pull out their forces. “No pullout. We know (that) they felt the pressure already and we are ready once they call for the military option,” he said.

The ICRC said the continuing hostage crisis has affected its humanitarian mission in Sulu and other parts of Mindanao.

Additional troops have been deployed in Sulu as armed men kidnapped three employees of a lending firm in Maluso town late Tuesday.

The victims were identified as Leah Patriacio, Nasrah Mujain and Asali Ilang. Mujain managed to escape and told authorities that they were seized while traveling back to their office on a motorcycle with their cash collection late Tuesday. – With John Unson, James Mananghaya, Marvin Sy, Jose Rodel Clapano, AP