Philippine military imposes news blackout on Red Cross kidnappings

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 17, 2000) – The Philippine military has imposed Saturday a news blackout on the ongoing operation to free three Red Cross members kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants whose group is tied to al-Qaeda terror network.

Hundreds of troops are tracking down the Abu Sayyaf and their captives Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugene Vagni and Marie Jean Lacaba, all members of the International Committee of the Red Cross, who inspected a prison facility in the town of Patikul last week.

Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr has said the offensive against the Abu Sayyaf was hampered by the kidnappings. Authorities have tagged Albader Parad, a commander of the Abu Sayyaf group, and a former jail guard Raden Abu, in the kidnapping of the ICRC team on Thursday.

On Saturday, the military’s Western Mindanao Command said it will not anymore release any information about the progress of the rescue mission. US troops, backed by unmanned aerial vehicles, are already helping the local military in the operation in Sulu, military sources said.

Security officials refused to give details or progress of the rescue operation, saying, it could jeopardize the whole mission and put the lives of the hostages at risk.

“Please be informed that for the time being, the Western Mindanao Command will not be able to provide updates regarding the ICRC abduction incident. This is not a media blackout, but rather a precaution to ensure the safety of the victims is not jeopardized.”

“However, be assured that should there be some major developments in the case, you will be accordingly informed. We hope four your continued support and understanding, especially at this time when information is critical and could spell the difference between success or failure of our efforts to safely bring home the victims,” said Army Lt. Steffani Cacho, spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command.

The kidnappers have not demanded any ransom, but the ICRC in Manila said it has received reliable information that the hostages are alive.

The trio arrived January 13 in Sulu province to inspect humanitarian works at the prison in Patikul, according to Teodoro. He said the ICRC team had refused military escorts, saying, they would go to rebel camps, including the Abu Sayyaf, and brief them about the International Humanitarian Law.

ICRC spokesman Roland Bigler said the victims were visiting the provincial jail, carrying out a water and sanitation project to improve the conditions of detainees.

“The ICRC people intimated to me that the reason also they do not want an armed escorts because they will go the MILF, the MNLF and the ASG to teach them the IHL,” he said, referring to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Moro National Liberation Front and the Abu Sayyaf groups.

Police said the hostages were last spotted in the hinterlands of Maimbung, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf. “We have reports that then kidnappers have taken their captives to the hinterlands of Maimbung. We have put up blocking forces in the area while troops are pursuing the Abu Sayyaf and their hostages,” said Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim, the Sulu police said.

The Abu Sayyaf has been labeled as a terrorist organization by both Manila and the United States. It has been tagged as behind many kidnappings-for-ransom and bombings in the restive region of the southern Philippines.

The group was also behind the abduction of 21 European tourists and Asian workers from the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan in 2000 and ransomed them off for millions of dollars which was used to purchase weapons and finance terrorism in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)