Task force rejects Misuari passage request to ICRC kidnappers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The task force handling the hostage crisis in southern Philippines involving three Red Cross workers has denied the request of former rebel leader Nur Misuari to have a passageway to the hostage-takers. Misuari, chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), made the request after the task force tapped his assistance to negotiate for the release of Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba, all staff of the International Committee on the Red Cross (ICRC). The three were seized by the Abu Sayyaf bandits last January 15 in the town of Patikul in Sulu province. Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, who heads the TF-ICRC, explained that they turned down Misuari’s request to prevent the bandits from moving the hostages from their present location. He said the area has been cordoned off by the military. “We don’t want that passage to be used by the other side, especially (by) the kidnappers to break through the line,” Tan said Tuesday. But Misuari said he needs a passageway between him and the Abu Sayyaf to start the talks for the hostages’ safe release. “There is no substitute for a face-to-face engagement or talks,” Misuari told reporters upon his arrival Tuesday at the Zamboanga International Airport from Jolo. Misuari, also a former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), refused to discuss the tactics he would adopt in negotiating for the release of the ICRC hostages, saying it is impossible to talk with an open card. Tan confirmed that they had tapped Misuari to help in the negotiation in response to the requests of several Sulu-based civil society organizations. Misuari has assured Tan that he is willing to return to Sulu to help the TF-ICRC in seeking the hostages' release. “I told the governor, if needed, feel free to call me and I will try to support the initiative to resolve this problem,” he said. Misuari said he visited Sulu to attend to personal matters. He did not elaborate. - GMANews.TV