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Thursday, November 11, 2004
Italian worker released; no ransom paid
MANILA -- An Italian aid worker abducted in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte was released unharmed early Wednesday after local leaders convinced the bandits to release the victim in the spirit of Ramadan.
Andrea Cianferoni, 29, seized Tuesday by four hooded gunmen outside Kauswagan town in Lanao del Norte province, said he was uncertain how his kidnappers were persuaded to release him.
He said no ransom was paid and his freedom was the result of the "wonderful cooperation between the local government, the Philippine Marines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)," the country's main Muslim separatist group.
President Arroyo welcomed Cianferoni's speedy rescue.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Armed Forces Chief Efren Abu had immediately reported to Arroyo about the development to which she is thankful.
Cianferoni, who spoke to a reporter at Cagayan de Oro airport before boarding a flight to Manila, said he was not harmed and he avoided angering the kidnappers.
"I was very obedient," he said, adding he had difficulty communicating with his captors, who spoke only the local Maranao dialect.
He said he and his abductors slept under coconut trees in the hills near Kauswagan, and took shelter in an abandoned hut when it rained.
"I am not sorry that I stayed in Mindanao. It is a really beautiful place, except for this incident," he said.
He described his relief at seeing a Filipino aid worker walking toward him ahead of a group of officials who came to negotiate with his kidnappers.
"That was the first friendly face I saw in 20 hours," he said.
Officials identified two of the four kidnappers, who abandoned Cianferoni and fled. Lt. Gen. Efren Abu told reporters in Manila: "They are bandits and members of a kidnap-for-ransom group in the area."
Abu said Cianferoni's release was a result of the joint effort of local officials, MILF leaders and the military.
Cianferoni, a native of Florence, had been overseeing projects such as the construction of village roads and health centers for the European Union-funded non-governmental organization Movimondo.
Local marine commander Col. Ben Dolorfino said by phone from Cagayan de Oro City that Muslim religious leaders and local officials helped negotiate for his release.
Tagolo-an Mayor Maminta Dimakuta led the negotiation together with other Muslim religious leaders.
Muslim rebels, who have been observing a ceasefire and have entered peace talks with the government, also helped by going after the kidnappers, he said.
"The kidnappers were not able to run (far) away because they saw a force of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that was searching for them," Dolorfino said. "They were forced to release Andrea this morning."
Not MILF
MILF Spokesman Eid Kabalu in an earlier interview denied any involvement in the abduction of Cianferoni.
Kabalu said they are even helping government authorities tracking down the suspects after one of their field commander was linked to the abduction.
MILF Lanao del Norte chief Abdullah Macapasir alias Kumander Bravo in a radio interview said, "It is not in us to kidnap anybody during Ramadan period."
Macapasir instead identified two of the four abductors as Acmad Limbo and Alimon Otik. (AP with reports from Liza Amarga and Linda Sahilan of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro)
(November 11, 2004 issue)
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