Kidnappers threaten to behead ICRC workers

MANILA, Philippines — The Abu Sayyaf has threatened to behead the three abducted Red Cross workers if the military would not pull out its forces - or at least stop its operations - in the southern Philippine province of Sulu. Radio dzBB's Benjie Alejandro said the threat came from no less than Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad. In the light of this development, Senator Richard Gordon met with police and military officials to discuss the Abu Sayyaf's threat. In a radio interview, Gordon, who also chairs the Philippine National Red Cross, said the situation in Sulu is already going out of hand and that there is a need for all the concerned sectors to coordinate more closely to resolve the hostage crisis. "Ako po ay humihingi ng hinahon kaya kami magmi-meeting ng kapulisan at ng mga matataas na military [officials] para mapakiusapan na dapat stand down muna, wala munang gulo, wala munang putukan," Gordon said. [“I am asking the authorities to calm down, that’s why we’re holding this meeting with the police and the military in order to appeal to them to cease their operations for the meantime."] Currently in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf are Italian Eugenio Vagni, Swiss Andreas Notter and Filipino Mary-Jean Lacaba, all members of the International Committee on the Red Cross who were abducted January 15 after inspecting a water sanitation project in a detention facility in the province. Gordon said Parad even promised him in a phone conversation that a hostage would be released if the military would pull out its forces in Sulu. “Mabuti nang makakuha ng isa kaysa mapugutan ng ulo kahit isa," he said. [“It’s better to have one of the hostages freed than have one of them beheaded."] Gordon said he’s holding on to Parad’s words. Sporadic clashes between government troops and Abu Sayyaf rebels have been ongoing since Monday in the island province, but the military denied that it was conducting rescue operations to free the three hostages. The military claimed to have hit Parad in Monday’s encounter in Indanan. On Tuesday, a man who identified himself as Parad phoned dzEC radio and said he was indeed hurt in the encounter but only “slightly." The Abu Sayyaf had earlier demanded the pullout of military troops in Sulu for the release of the three hostages, who were abducted last January 15. The military has refused to heed the demand. - GMANews.TV