No-ransom policy stays in ICRC kidnapping - Gordon

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon on Sunday maintained that no ransom would be paid in exchange for the release of the three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers who were abducted in southern Philippines last week. In an interview with radio dzBB, Gordon, chairman of Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), said that despite the absence of negotiation feelers, they would neither shell out money nor negotiate for the release of Swiss Andreas Notter, 38; Italian Eugenio Vagni, 62; and Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba, 37. Gordon also declined to speculate that the captors of Notter, Vagni and Lacaba are members of the notorious Abu Sayyaf terrorist group. "Hindi natin alam kung Abu Sayaff. We do not speculate kung ‘yun ang dumukot sa kanila. Hindi kami nakikipag-usap, hindi kami magbabayad ng ransom [we are not sure if the Abu Sayyaf kidnapped the victims. We do not speculate. We are not communicating with the captors, and we will not pay ransom]," Gordon said. Gordon expressed relief over reports that the victims are alive and unharmed. He appealed to the captors not to hurt the three, saying they are not “enemies." The three captives, who inspected the water and sanitation project in a jail in Sulu province, were headed to the airport after visiting a jail in Jolo town, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, when they were seized last Thursday. Due to the incident, Gordon said water and sanitation projects in Sulu might be temporarily postponed. Philippine Marines Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, head of Jolo's anti-terrorism task force, had earlier said that the gunmen headed toward Indanan township, about 18 miles (30 kilometers) from Jolo town where they may turn over their hostages to the notorious Abu Sayyaf commander Albader Parad. Gordon said last Thursday's abduction was the most “serious" threat to Red Cross volunteers. - GMANews.TV