Military to 'rescue ' ICRC workers if Abu Sayyaf militants harm them

MANILA, Philippines — The military will be forced to conduct rescue operations for the abducted members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) if the Abu Sayyaf pushes through with their plan to behead the victims, Sulu-based military spokesman on the hostage crisis Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said. In an interview, Arevalo clarified that his statement was not a threat but the “logical consequence" that the bandits would face should they kill their victims. “Bakit tayo humaba ng ganito, kahaba ng pag-uusap? Because we would like to safeguard the victims, di ba? Gusto nating ma-release sila safely. Pero kung iha-harm sila at papatayin sila, parang tinanggalan na natin ng reason para makapagusap natin sila," Arevalo said. [Why did the negotiations took this long? Because we would like to ensure the safety of the victims, right? We want their safe release. But if they would be harmed or killed, it’s like taking away the reason to continue the negotiations.] The official stressed that military operations remain the government’s last option. “[But] kung lahat ng [if all the] efforts, pacific modes of settling this particular crisis has failed, and lalong-lalo kung pupugutan nila, o sasaktan nila ‘yung mga hostages nila, ‘yung mga kidnap victims nila [especially if they would behead them or hurt the hostages], the crisis committee might not have no other options but to recommend or task the Armed Forces of the Philippines to launch a rescue operation," Arevalo said quoting Sulu Gov. Abdusakar Tan, who is also crisis committee chair. The bandits on Tuesday gave an ultimatum against the military to pull out troops or the victims — Italian Eugenio Vagni, Swiss Andreas Notter, and Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba — would be beheaded. The ICRC workers were abducted at gunpoint in Jolo, Sulu on January 15. The Abu Sayyaf earlier promised that they would release one of the hostages if troops were pulled out. However, the hostage-takers refused to honor the agreement after the government repositioned its troops, demanding it was not enough. Arevalo explained that the military has assessed all the areas where the bandits demanded for a military pullout. However, he said, heeding all the bandits’ demands would mean “virtually abandoning the people kung ‘dun tayo ilalagay ‘dun sa mga lugar na malayo [if we would be placed to the far areas]." He also accused the bandits of lacking “good faith" for not honoring their word. “[It’s] enough for them to release the victims, or anyone of them or all, of them if they wanted so. It only goes to show na wala silang [that they don’t have] good faith, kung talagang gusto nila [if they really want to], they can release the victims, release them unconditionally or they can release them anytime at our present status or position of troops. There is no need for us to pullout any further," he said. – With Aie B. See, GMANews.TV