3 Red Cross hostages survive Sulu clashes

MANILA, Philippines — Officials said Wednesday that three Red Cross hostages survived two days of fierce jungle clashes that killed three Marines and up to seven al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf captors in the southern Philippines. Police Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani said the Italian, Swiss and Filipino aid workers, their hands tied, were seen running with their captors toward a mountain after the militants fought with marines near Indanan on southern Jolo Island. Sen. Richard Gordon, who heads the local Red Cross, said he spoke with Abu Sayyaf commander Albader Parad by mobile phone and was told the hostages, who have been held for more than two months, were unharmed. Gordon strongly criticized the Marines for opening fire on the Abu Sayyaf gunmen Monday. But the military on Wednesday clarified that government forces have not yet resorted to military operations to rescue the hostages. Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, a spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), made the clarification after the military drew flak for allegedly endangering the lives of victims Italian Eugenio Vagni, Swiss Andreas Notter and Filipino Mary-Jean Lacaba after a fire fight broke out between the government and the kidnappers. "We would like to make it clear na hindi pa tayo nag-transition sa isang military rescue operation. Bukas pa rin 'yung mga avenues natin for the peaceful release of the ICRC victims," Torres said in a press conference Wednesday. [“We would like to make it clear that we have not yet shifted to military operation. We’re still open for peaceful release of the ICRC victims."] On Monday a clash took place between the military and the kidnappers. The encounter was followed by several other skirmishes. The latest was Tuesday’s clash in Barangay Sionogan, which already spread to nearby Malimbaya village. ICRC officials on Tuesday called on the military to be extra-cautious in going after the kidnappers so as not to put the victims’ line in danger, despite reports that they were unhurt. - AP/GMANews.TV