Notter turned over to ICRC officials

MANILA, Philippines - Kidnapped Red Cross worker Andreas Notter was turned over Saturday afternoon by officials in Sulu province to representatives of the International Red Cross Committee (ICRC), after hours he was rescued by the police. Radio dzBB’s Benjie Liwanag reported that the turnover was made right after a press conference presided by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno near the residence of Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan in Jolo, Sulu. Puno arrived in Sulu together with Director General Jesus Verzosa, chief of the Philiuppine National Police (PNP), at noon Saturday. According to GMA’s Flash Report, the freed hostage has already undergone an initial medical checkup but doctors from the ICRC were to conduct more tests. GMA reporter Emil Sumagil described Notter as haggard-looking and that he was given milk and breakfast as soon as he was taken to the governor’s office following his rescue by the police in Indanan townearly in the day. In a separate report, Radio dzBB reported Saturday that the Swiss national will soon undergo a debriefing because most hostages reportedly experience a syndrome that makes them feel close to their kidnappers. Notter’s rescue leaves only Italian Eugenio Vagni in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf group of Albader Parad, which was earlier rumored to be demanding $5 million for the freedom of its captives. Notter, Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba were seized by gunmen on January 15 after the trio finished inspecting a water sanitation project on Jolo Island in Sulu. On April 2, the bandits released Lacaba. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV