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Saturday, July 07, 2007
Italy 'satisfied' with rescue efforts for Bossi
MANILA -- Italian envoy and former parliamentarian Margherita Boniver on Friday conveyed to the Philippine military the Italian Government's satisfaction with the ongoing search and rescue mission for Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi.
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"The ambassador was very happy about it (military effort)," Armed Forces public information officer Bartolome Bacarro told reporters after Boniver met with Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
"She appreciated the effort extended by the Armed Forces of the Philippines...to put a resolution to the case," Bacarro said, referring to the hostage crisis.
Bossi was kidnapped by a group of armed men while on his way to say mass at a remote village in Payao town in Zamboanga Sibugay last June 10.
During the meeting, Bacarro said Esperon briefed the Italian envoy on the ongoing efforts to secure the freedom of the 57-year-old Bossi, the parish priest of Payao town. Bossi began missionary work in the Philippines in 1998.
Bacarro said she was also informed that three battalions and a company of the elite US-trained Light Reaction Company are involved in the search. A battalion is composed of 300 men while a company is made up of around 120 personnel.
"Initially, the chief of staff has conveyed to the Italian envoy the efforts being undertaken by the Armed Forces of the Philippines relative to our effort to rescue Fr. Bossi and this included the number of units that we have deployed in the area," said Bacarro.
Bacarro said Army soldiers are being augmented by at least 200 policemen. He said ground troops have backing from Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy assets.
He said the military assured the group of Boniver that there are enough forces to secure the freedom of Bossi.
"The number of troops that have been poured in here is sufficient enough to perform rescue operations," he said.
Bacarro said Boniver was glad over the military's efforts. The military has not disclosed to the public where the kidnappers are keeping Bossi saying this may compromise existing operations and endanger the life of the hostage.
Bacarro said Esperon and Boniver also agreed that payment of ransom should not be pursued to secure Bossi's freedom. The military earlier said it was willing to allow negotiations so long that they will not result in payment of ransom. (VR/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (July 7, 2007 issue)
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