US envoy on kidnapping of ICRC staff in Sulu: Appalling

MANILA, Philippines - Describing the latest abduction in Sulu as “appalling," US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney joined a number of humanitarian personalities in denouncing the kidnapping of three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) personnel in Sulu shortly before Thursday noon. Kenney expressed her sentiments during People Asia Magazine’s “People of the Year" Awards in Pasig City Thursday night, where she was one of the awardees, according to Marvin Tomandao’s report on News on Q. "I’m horrified. These are people who, throughout the country, do a wonderful work. And I think it’s appalling that they would be falling into any kind of harm’s way," Kenney said. Those abducted were Andreas Notter, a Swiss; Eugenio Vagni, an Italian; and Jean Lacaba, a Filipino. The humanitarian workers were seized by still unidentified armed men at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in Jolo town shortly after the three completed a water and sanitation project to improve living condition for detainees at the Sulu provincial jail. Echoing the US ambassador’s reaction to the incident, former actress Rosa Rosal – chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross Blood Program – said said their humanitarian group is considered “neutral" and is usually not harmed by any armed group in southern Philippines. "It’s so unfair. Usually, kapag Red Cross they don’t touch us. Pero mukhang iba ngayon [This time, it’s seems different]," Rosal said. Crisis unit "Let’s just pray and I hope tomorrow [Friday] we’ll have good news already," Rosal added. In a related development, GMA’s Flash Report said Friday morning that the ICRC had already pulled out the three other Red Cross personnel who were on board the ICRC vehicle with Lacaba, Vagni, and Notter before they were abducted. GMA’s Flash Report said that the three ICRC personnel took a SeaAir flight to Zamboanga City. For its part, the Italian government said it has already activated a crisis unit to respond to the abduction incident and coordinate with various sectors to work out the safe rescue of the victims. "The Crisis Unit is already in contact with Mr Vagni's family and is following the situation in close coordination with the Embassy in Manila, the Philippine authorities and the Italian Red Cross," the statement said. Aside from the Italian government, the ICRC chapter in Geneva, Switzerland has already mobilized its “cellule de crise" to follow up on the kidnapping incident, according to the same statement from the Italian Embassy. The Sulu provincial police have already formed a team to cover possible exit routes of the armed suspects. The Armed Force of the Philippines has already tagged bandit group Abu Sayyaf in the abduction, further verifying intelligence report that Albader Parad’s faction is the one particularly involved. Drilon kidnapping Parad's group was linked to the abduction of an ABS-CBN television crew led by veteran broadcast journalist Maria Cecilia Oreña-Drilon in June last year. It was also linked to the abduction of a Chinese trader in Sulu last December. The ICRC said it is in contact with local authorities and other parties to resolve the situation soonest. In the meantime, the humanitarian group said their aid work in the country continues despite the incident. PNRC chairman and Sen. Richard Gordon said the ICRC and the PNRC are not keen on entertaining negotiations or ransom demands from the abductors. "If you think you can get ransom for abducting these people, you are wrong. No amount of reward will work here. You should just release these people," Gordon had said. - GMANews.TV