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Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Military considers rescue of Italian priest
MANILA -- Government and Moro rebel troops are planning a military rescue of kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi after negotiations with his abductors fell through, a top military official said Tuesday.
Major General Ben Mohammad Dolorfino said the move was discussed as an option Tuesday by Army and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officials after they were able to pinpoint the location of Bossi and his abductors.
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Dolorfino said though that they still intend to pursue negotiations with the kidnappers
Bossi was abducted on June 10 while on his way to say mass in Payao town, where he is parish priest, in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay.
His abductors, whom Dolorfino identified as a group of Tausug-speaking people, escaped the Philippine military and MILF dragnet in the town of Naga in Zamboanga Sibugay by passing through a mangrove area.
They were able to bring Bossi to the thickly forested boundary of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte where they were sighted by MILF rebels, said rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu.
Hundreds of Army soldiers searching for Bossi in Zamboanga Sibugay shifted their search to Lanao but initially allowed MILF rebels to take the lead in tracking the priest, said Dolorfino.
"We have to take over from them because we are the legitimate armed forces," Dolorfino added.
Dolorfino said Bossi and his kidnappers were still seen in Lanao on Tuesday and this prompted discussions on a possible rescue operation.
"The commanders from both sides talked on how to jointly undertake the operation. They are preparing, that's why they are talking," said Dolorfino, adding that the planning is spearheaded by an unnamed Army battalion commander and MILF leader Mohammad Nasif, who is heading negotiations with the 15-man group that kidnapped Bossi.
"Mohammad Nasif and the battalion commander are attending to arrangements on the ground right now," said Dolorfino, adding that during the discussions the MILF leader proposed that the assault take place Tuesday.
The MILF proposal was opposed by the Army battalion commander because it may endanger the safety of the 57-year-old Bossi who the military earlier said appeared wearied from the walking.
Also, a military rescue would have to be approved by political leaders, Dolorfino added.
Kabalu said the guerrillas had no objection to army troops taking over frontline efforts to free Bossi.
The guerrillas, who have been engaged in Malaysian-brokered peace talks with the government, have signed an agreement to help authorities capture criminals and terrorists.
The 2004 agreement was due to expire on Thursday, leaving the rebels without any authority to take a leading role in securing Bossi's freedom. The government and rebels have not decided to renew the accord, Kabalu said.
Even without the accord, the guerrillas were willing to help solve Bossi's kidnapping, he said.
After rebel and government forces pinpointed the general location of Bossi and his abductors, Dolorfino at first said the priest could be freed Monday. But he sounded less optimistic Tuesday, saying, "We cannot give a time frame for the recovery efforts. We really have to ensure that Father Bossi would not be harmed by the kidnappers."
Military chief of staff General Hermogenes Esperon, however, was more upbeat, saying Bossi could be freed as soon as Tuesday. "Let us pray that he could be freed this afternoon," he told reporters. He gave no details.
The British Embassy has advised its citizens from traveling to the volatile southern Mindanao region, citing recent bomb attacks and Bossi's kidnapping.
In a briefing at Malacañang, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the "no ransom policy" of government stands.
"Every life is sacred. We will try to negotiate, we will order efforts to secure his safe release but we have a standing policy as far as ransom is concerned," he said. (VR/JMR/Sunnex/With AP)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (June 20, 2007 issue)
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