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Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Pinoy diplomat freed by Afghan captors
MANILA -- President Arroyo's government announced Tuesday the release of Filipino United Nations (UN) volunteer Angelito Nayan and his two companions after almost a month in the hands of Afghan militants.
When he was freed at last, the first thing Nayan did was apologize to his family.
Nayan, 34, and two other UN workers kidnapped in Afghanistan four weeks ago were released unharmed Tuesday, a day after a string of raids by US and Afghan security forces.
Filipinos rejoiced at Nayan's release, but President Arroyo reminded people to continue "efforts and prayers" for another Filipino hostage held in Iraq.
For the first time since his kidnapping on Oct. 28, Nayan talked by phone to his sister in Manila and had an "emotional telephone conversation" with President Arroyo.
The junior foreign service officer, who went to Afghanistan to help organize last month's election, "was a bit apologetic" that everyone had to go through so much trouble, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Jose Brillantes said.
But there was no need for apologies in Manila, where throngs of Nayan's neighbors in suburban Las Piņas gathered at their community chapel to celebrate.
A group of Nayan's neighbors, who have been holding vigils and masses since Nayan was kidnapped, went around the neighborhood announcing the good news on a loudspeaker.
Welcome news
His family received news of his release with elation.
His sister Grace said they are happy that after 26 days in captivity, their youngest brother will soon be in their arms and spending Christmas with them.
"We feel no hatred toward the abductors," Grace told a press conference at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) office in Makati City.
Grace said she talked to Nayan over the telephone and he apologized for making the family suffer for what happened to him in Kabul.
"I talked to him and he said sorry for putting us through this," Grace said.
Grace said this will be the "best Christmas ever" for their family.
When asked what Nayan told her of his ordeal, Grace said he did not give any details and that what her brother only told her is that they were detained in a far place.
"There was no mention of how they were released. All he said is that they were in a far place and that you cannot make any movements and that everyday, there is a threat that they may be executed," Grace said.
One more
President Arroyo, who was on her way home from a summit in Chile, said in a statement, "I thank God and I'm deeply grateful to the people who helped facilitate the release of Angelito Nayan and to the millions of Filipinos who prayed that he be spared from harm."
But she recalled that another hostage, accountant Robert Tarongoy, is still missing.
He was kidnapped in Baghdad on Nov. 1 with an unidentified American.
"Let us continue our efforts and prayers for Roberto Tarongoy that he will likewise be spared," Arroyo said.
"My hopes are undiminished as we hold precious every Filipino life anywhere in the world."
Arroyo's communications director, Silvestre Afable Jr., said no ransom was paid.
Philippine officials earlier ruled out direct negotiations between Manila and the kidnappers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In July, US and Australian officials strongly criticized Arroyo after she caved in to a demand from Iraqi kidnappers and withdrew a small of Filipino peacekeepers early to secure the release of Filipino truck driver Angelo dela Cruz.
Home soon
Nayan, Anetta Flanigan of Northern Ireland and Shqipe Habibi of Kosovo, kidnapped last Oct. 28 on their way to the Intercon Hotel in Kabul by suspected Afghan militia, were turned over to United Nations officials without ransom.
Afable said Malacaņang also acknowledged the support and assistance of the Muslim community who "led in the prayers for Nayan's release and we are happy that this has been fulfilled."
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said Brillantes is in Kabul to receive Nayan from the UN and Afghan authorities and facilitate his eventual return to the Philippines.
Nayan and his companions were immediately brought to the hospital for a routine checkup and "he will be flying home within 24 hours."
Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye said if Nayan, after his ordeal, is declared healthy and safe to travel by health authorities, he could immediately return to the Philippines or "anywhere to be with his family."
The release of the three was a relief to foreign aid workers and UN staffers among Kabul's 2,000-strong expatriate community, under virtual lockdown since the kidnapping.
Large tracts of the country are already off-limits to relief workers because of a stubborn Taliban-led insurgency.
Nayan, Flanigan and Habibi were the first foreigners kidnapped in the Afghan capital since the Taliban fell three years ago, and their abductions raised fears that the Afghan capital can become prey to the kind of deadly kidnappings by insurgents that have plagued Iraq.
No exchange
Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali said the trio was "abandoned in one location inside Kabul" around 6 a.m. Tuesday.
"None of the hostage-takers conditions have been met," he told a news conference.
Afghan officials have said they believe a criminal gang carried out the abductions and that negotiations centered on a ransom demand.
But Syed Khalid, a spokesman for Jaish-al Muslimeen, told the Associated Press Tuesday it had freed the hostages overnight against an "assurance that the release of our 24 people would begin today."
His claims cannot be verified, as official sources insisted there was no prisoner-for-hostage exchange.
US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad hailed the releases as a "major defeat to terrorists who wanted to export an Iraq-style hostage-taking in Afghanistan." (AP/JMR/Marie Neri)
(November 24, 2004 issue)
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