An undated photo of a United States Navy Orion spy plane flying over Zamboanga Peninsula in the southern Philippines. The U.S deploys an Orion aircraft, also known as electronic warfare prowler jet, to help Philippine authorities track down an Italian missioner Giancarlo Bossi, who was kidnapped by rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, possibly with ties to the Abu Sayyaf group linked to al-Qaeda. Below, a fleet of Orion planes stationed in Mactan Air Base in central Philippines, in this photo taken in 2006, from the archives of the Zamboanga Journal Online News. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)
MAGUINDANAO (Mindanao Examiner / 14 Jun) – The mastermind in the kidnapping of an Italian priest in the southern Philippines may still be connected with the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Philippine authorities tagged a rogue MILF leader Akiddin Abdusallam and his brother Waning Abdusallam, in the kidnapping June 10 of Fr. Giancarlo Bossi in Payao town in Zamboanga Sibugay province.
Rebel leaders initially denied the charges and blamed the Abu Sayyaf in the kidnapping, but the group’s deputy chief, Ghazali Jaafar, on Thursday said the chief kidnapper appears to be still a member of the MILF.
“Akiddin Abbusallam appears to be an MILF member up to this time,” said Jaafar, the MILF deputy chief for political affairs.
But Jaafar was quick to say that Abdusallam may also be innocent of all accusations against him.
“As far as we know, those who abducted the priest are notorious personalities involved in previous kidnappings (for ransom) in Pagadian City and Zamboanga City and in (Zamboanga) Sibugay,” Jaafar said. “They operate on their own and we cannot say if they have links or members of the Abu Sayyaf group.”
Jaafar said they have three suspects in the kidnapping of Bossi, but could not divulge them publicly, saying, it could jeopardize efforts to free the missioner.
Maj. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito, commander of the Army’s First Infantry Division, said Abdussalam has denied any involvement in the kidnapping.
Pajarito said: “Akiddin Abdusallam has denied any involvement in the kidnapping of the Italian priest. Fr. Bossi. He said he has no participation in the kidnapping. Authorities are investigating this claim.”
Police said Abdusallam is the deputy commander the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the military wing of the MILF, operating in the province. He was previously reported to have died in a clash with troops, but it turned that he is alive.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu and chief rebel peace negotiator, Mohagher Iqbal, both said that Abdusallam, who was a former leader of the Moro National Liberation Front, had long ceased to be a member of their group, which is currently negotiating peace with Manila.
For his part, Jaafar said the MILF is helping Filipino authorities track down the kidnappers and their hostage in Zamboanga Sibugay province.
Catholic priests are also seeking contact with the kidnappers in an effort to secure the freedom of Bossi, who was seized after celebrating mass in the remote village of Bulawan.
The Philippines also sought the deployment of a U.S. EP-3 Orion reconnaissance aircraft, also known as electronic warfare prowler jets, to help ground forces trace the kidnappers.
The Philippine and U.S. forces previously used the spy plane, capable of carrying missiles, to hunt down Abu Sayyaf militants who kidnapped three American citizens in 2001 in Mindanao.
Reconnaissance aircraft routinely flies over Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago presumably to spot Abu Sayyaf positions. U.S. forces, on the request of the Philippine government, are helping Filipino soldiers in the campaign by providing satellite snapshots of the area of operation. (With a report from Mark Navales)
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