Italian priest held in Zamboanga Sibugay

A 57-year-old Italian priest was abducted by a group of armed men in Zamboanga Sibugay, an Army officer said on Sunday. The kidnapping occurred just days after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo returned home from a meeting with Pope Benedict XIV at The Vatican. Col. Godofredo Paderanga, officer of the civil-military operations of the Philippine Army's First Infantry Battalion, identified the victim as Giancarlo Bossi, a parish priest of Payao, a fourth class municipality in the province. Paderanga said lawless elements under a certain Kumander Khidi captured Bossi at about 9:35 a.m., Sunday at Bulawan village. “The suspects belong to a group of lawless elements under one Commander Khidi. So far there was still no demand for ransom," the official said in a phone interview. A pursuit operation is being conducted by the Army’s 102 Brigade according to Paderanga. Zamboanga Sibugay is the 79th province of the Philippines created in 2001 when the third district of Zambonga del Sur was split off. The province is in Mindanao's Zamboanga Peninsula region. Meanwhile, a separate report from radio dzBB on Sunday said that Bossi had just finished officiating mass in Payao when he was kidnapped by at least 10 men. The report said no motive for the abduction has yet been established. Another dzBB report before 4 p.m., quoting Chief Supt. Francisco Cristobal Jr, Zambonga provincial police director, said authorities are conducting follow-up operations to track down the perpetrators and rescue Bossi. DzBB said the police have set up checkpoints at the province's exit and entry roads, while the Army has cordoned off exit courses at the sea boundaries of Zambonga Sibugay. Bossi is the second Italian priest kidnapped in Mindanao in the last six years. In 2001, members of the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom group held Giussepe Pierantoni while officiating a mass in Dimataling town in Zamboanga del Sur in October 2001. Pierantoni was released weeks after ransom was paid to his captors - GMANews.TV (First posted at 2 p.m.)