400 soldiers out to locate kidnapped Swiss-Filipino national
At least 400 soldiers have been deployed to locate the whereabouts of kidnapped Swiss-Filipino businessman Carl Rieth (not Charlie Reich as earlier reported) in southern Philippines. Armed Forces chief Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos said the military operation is more focused on intelligence gathering to pinpoint the location of the victim and his captors, who are believed to be Abu Sayyaf bandits. âWe are helping the Task Force Charlie in all aspects, especially in intelligence collection to determine where they went," he said. This, as the head of the Crisis Management Committee â the committee formed to resolve the kidnapping â appealed for the unconditional release of the 72-year-old Rieth, who is said to be suffering from several ailments. âWe are appealing to the kidnappers to release safely Mister Reith," said Zamboanga City mayor Celso Lobregat. He described Riethâs health condition as ânot good." He said Rieth is a diabetic who has a heart condition and also suffering from hypertension and vertigo. He said the victim also has a throat condition. Rieth was kidnapped Sunday afternoon from his private resort in Zamboanga City. Lobregat said the kidnappers have yet to contact them regarding any demand. He, however, assured that they would not give in to any ransom demand. âActually, [in] the government, we follow a non-ransom policy. That is why we are asking the kidnappers to please release Mister Reith," he said. Catholic officials in Zamboanga City, meanwhile, condemned the kidnapping as they prayed for Riethâs safe release. Zamboanga Archdiocese spokesman Msgr. David Alonzo lamented the kidnapping came with the countryâs first automated elections just around the corner. âWe condemn this kidnapping incident. We are also praying for the safe release of the victim," Alonzo said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishopsâ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site. âSuch crime must also be solved by the authorities immediately as election is nearing so that people will have confidence on the peace and order situation here," he added. - KBK, GMANews.TV