Saturday, July 21, 2007 (Philippines)

A beaming Fr. Bossi emerges from his meeting with President Arroyo in Malacañang Palace. The Italian priest, held hostage for six weeks in Basilan, said yesterday he lost 15 pounds on a meager diet (box, this page) but was not threatened or harmed by a breakaway faction of MILFs who kidnapped him. Bossi, 57, said he did not believe he would be freed until he was dumped Thursday night along a road where police picked him up. (AP photo) ITALIAN priest Giancarlo Bossi, who was kidnapped by Islamic militants, broke down in tears yesterday as he described his six weeks of captivity in the Philippine jungle. Bossi, freed overnight after days of negotiations with the militants led by a former Islamic rebel, said he was repeatedly forced to march through the jungle at gunpoint as his captors tried to evade the authorities. Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage View here the list of local winners [full story]