BY RAYMOND AFRICA
KIDNAPPERS of three workers of the
International Committee of the Red Cross have reportedly
contacted Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, head of the Area Coordinating
Committee, and demanded a stop to rescue operations being
conducted by the police and military so that negotiations could
start.
But Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the
Philippine National Red Cross, said ICRC does not intend to
negotiate with the kidnappers believed to be Abu Sayyaf members.
Tan said authorities would use "Islamic
persuasion" for the "unconditional release" of Swiss Andreas
Notter, 38, Italian Eugenio Vagni, 62, and Filipino Mary Jean
Lacaba who were abducted Thursday last week by suspected members
of the Abu Sayyaf after a visit to the jail at the Sulu
provincial capitol.
Chief Supt. Bensali Jabarani, chief of the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said the kidnappers led by
Albader Parad have not made any ransom demand.
A police report said the abductors and their
hostages were spotted in Indanan, Sulu Saturday.
A report from Camp Crame’s National
Operations Center said the kidnappers and their hostages were
seen in Sitio Lungon-Lungon, Barangay Kuppong in Indanan.
The report said the three were first brought
to Mount Aluk in Sitio Lumbaan, Barangay Bangalan in Indanan
town, then transferred to Barangay Kagay and sitio Lungon-Lungon
in Barangay Kuppong.
It said the abductors could have later
separated their victims. One of the foreigners was spotted in
Sitio Tambuang, Barangay Tubig, Samin, Sulu, guarded by at least
30 armed men.
The report also said the kidnappers used the
victims’ service vehicle belonging to the Sulu chapter of the
Philippine National Red Cross in moving the victims. The vehicle
was found abandoned on the same day of the abduction. On
inspection, police found P49,000 in cash, a laptop computer, and
an undetermined amount of dollars.
Police have set up checkpoints in Suaua and
Anoling, both in Patikul town.
Tan, in a radio interview, asked politicians
especially those seeking re-election in 2010 not to use the
issue for "media mileage."
He said information dissemination should be
left to the Armed Forces or the interior department.
The military has imposed an apparent news
blackout.
Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, chief of the AFP
public information office, said they are "suspending operational
updates" on military operations in Sulu so as not to endanger
the captives and compromise rescue efforts.
He said the public would be informed of
"significant developments on the incident."
When pressed if this is a news blackout,
Torres said it is only on the "operational aspect."
"We can still give you some updates on the
developments but not on the location of the troops, the unit of
the troops involved in the operation, like that. It’s purely on
the operational updates," he added.
Tan, in the radio interview, would not say if
they have established contact with the kidnappers.
The ICRC on Saturday said the three workers
called last Friday, saying they were safe.
Tan, asked if they are also imposing a news
blackout, said: "Not necessarily news blackout. What we are
saying is get feedback from us and refrain from making
unnecessary statements. Leave this to us."
Tan said operations are being coordinated with Interior
Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.,
AFP chief Gen. Alexander Yano, and PNP chief Jesus Verzosa.
Roland Bigler, ICRC communication delegate,
said the agency could not give details "because it is a very
sensitive issue."
Jean-Daniel Tauxe, head of the ICRC’s
Philippine delegation, said, "We are not in a position to
comment further since our main priority is ensuring that nothing
jeopardizes their safety."
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front lashed at
Teodoro for rejecting its offer to help in securing the freedom
of the hostages.
Khaled Musa, deputy chair of the MILF’s
committee on information, said there will come a time when the
MILF will be "the only force to reckon with in Sulu," a
bailiwick of the Abu Sayyaf.
But Musa said the MILF would still help in the efforts to
secure the release of the ICRC workers. – With Victor
Reyes, Gerard Naval and JP Lopez