Red Cross Hostage Freed in Philippines

More good news, this time from the Philippines, where Eugenio Vagni, an Italian Red Cross worker kidnapped by Abu Sayaf rebels January 15, has been released. Via Bloomberg News:

July 12 (Bloomberg) -- Italian Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni was released by Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippine province of Sulu almost six months after he and two others were taken hostage.

Vagni was released around midnight to Sulu Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidulla, who had gone to negotiate with Vagni’s captors yesterday, Philippine Red Cross spokeswoman Gwen Pang said in a phone interview. Sahidulla returned two wives of an Abu Sayyaf leader, who were detained by authorities last week, Philippine Daily Inquirer reported, citing the vice governor.

“With two dear women nagging, the subleader was persuaded to help work out the release of Vagni,” Navy spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Edgard Arevalo said in a phone interview. While authorities said no ransom was paid, the Inquirer reported Sahidulla as saying she gave Vagni’s captors 50,000 pesos ($1,036) as “cigarette money.” She didn’t answer mobile phone calls or text messages seeking her comment.

Vagni was among three Red Cross workers kidnapped by the militant Abu Sayyaf group on Jan. 15. The other two, a Filipina and a Swiss national, were released in April. Abu Sayyaf is a splinter of the Muslim separatist movement in southern Philippines, home of most of the country’s Muslim minority.

The kidnappers in March threatened to behead at least one of the hostages unless the military withdrew from the area. The government refused, saying complying would amount to surrendering the island.

Thank God for this successful release. Please continue to pray for the protection and safety of all the many aid workers who struggle against harsh conditions and the threat of kidnapping and murder to bring hope to the needy in some of the most dangerous parts of the world.

Kidnapped Teachers Released in Philippines

Good news from the Philippines, where three teachers kidnapped by Abu Sayaf have been released unharmed. Via Hindu News:

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP) Muslim militants on Tuesday freed three teachers after four months of jungle captivity in the southern Philippines despite a refusal to pay ransom.

The Jan. 23 abductions from a boat off Zamboanga city were among several kidnappings-for-ransom blamed on the Abu Sayyaf extremist group and its allied gunmen.

The teachers' abductions were strongly condemned because they were working to provide education to underprivileged youths.

The Abu Sayyaf militants are still holding at least four hostages, including a Sri Lankan peace activist on Basilan island and an Italian Red Cross worker on nearby Jolo.

Gunmen handed over Quizon Freires, Janette Delos Reyes and Rafael Mayonado to a government negotiator in Mohamad Ajul township on Basilan.

The teachers were brought by speedboat to nearby Zamboanga, where they met their parents in tearful reunions and underwent medical checkups, Mayor Celso Lobregat said.

The three visibly lost weight and were still in shock but appeared to be in good health.

``They're still in a lot of stress but they're fine,'' Lobregat told The Associated Press by telephone. ``We thank God that they're back with us, alive.''

Thank God for this answered prayer! Please continue to pray for Eugenio Vagni, the Italian Red Cross worker held captive by Abu Sayaf, and for all hostages throughout the world.

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Abu Sayaf Kidnaps 3 Teachers

Abu Sayaf Kidnaps 3 Teachers in Philippines

The terrorist group Abu Sayaf, responsible for the kidnapping of three Red Cross workers earlier this year, is now threatening to behead three grade-school teachers they have abducted. Via GMA News:

MANILA, Philippines - After beheading last weekend a farmer it took hostage, the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Basilan province has threatened to behead three teachers it is holding if ransom wouldn’t be paid for their release.

Radio dzXL reported Tuesday the bandits would start the executions in 15 days' time.

The report quoted government's Task Force Trillium, the group organized to deal with the hostage crisis in the province, as saying the bandits made the ultimatum through one Den Mungkay, said to be from the special operations group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Still held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf are Rafael Mayonada, Quizon Freirez and Jeannette delos Reyes, all of the Landang Gua Elementary School on Sacol Island in Zamboanga City.

Please pray for the protection and rescue of these hostages, and for the continued safety of Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni, still held in captivity after his two colleagues, Mary Jean Lacaba and Andreas Notter, were rescued earlier this month.

Second Red Cross Hostage Free

Good news from the Philippines: Andreas Notter, the Swiss Red Cross worker kidnapped more than three months ago along with two colleagues, has been freed. Via CNN:

(CNN) -- One of two aid workers still held by militants in the Philippines has been freed, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Saturday.

ICRC officials spoke briefly by telephone to Andreas Notter and confirmed he is free, an ICRC spokeswoman in Geneva, Switzerland, said, but no other details were immediately available.

A doctor was with Notter as a precaution, Nelson said. He remained in the Philippines but his exact location was unclear, she said.

"Considering what he's been through over the past 93 days, he seems to be doing quite well but is obviously very concerned for (fellow hostage) Eugenio Vagni, whom he spent the past 93 days with," Nelson said.

The Philippine News Agency said Notter's captors released him Saturday morning.

The agency cited a military spokesman, Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, who himself cited "sketchy reports" that Notter was found by security forces cordoning off his kidnappers.

Notter was among three Red Cross workers kidnapped January 15 on the island of Sulu, in the far southwestern part of the Philippines, the ICRC has said.

The kidnappers released one of the hostages, Mary Jean Lacaba, earlier this month. The third staff member, Eugenio Vagni, remains in captivity.

Prayers of thanks for this deliverance! Please continue to pray for the safe release of Eugenio Vagni and for the safety of aid workers in the Philippines and elsewhere.

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One Red Cross Hostage Freed in Philippines
Philippine Military Prepares to Rescue Hostages
Philippine Rebels Threaten to Behead Red Cross Hostages
Kidnapped Red Cross Workers Survive Gun Battle in Philippines

One Red Cross Hostage Freed in Philippines

The Abu Sayyaf rebels holding three Red Cross workers hostage since January have released one, but continue to threaten to behead the others. Via Bloomberg News:

April 2 (Bloomberg) -- Abu Sayyaf militants freed the Filipino Red Cross worker they kidnapped more than two months ago in the southern Philippines. They still hold an Italian and a Swiss national from the charity who were seized with her.

Mary Jean Lacaba was released today at around 8:30 p.m. local time after negotiations led by Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan, said Colonel Eugenio Clemen, deputy commander of the anti- terrorism task force in the southern province, in a phone interview. She was taken to a military base on Jolo, Sulu’s main island, about 970 kilometers (600 miles) south of Manila, the capital, said Sulu Public Information Officer Sonny Abing.

Lacaba was seized Jan. 15 on Jolo island together with Red Cross staff members Eugenio Vagni, from Italy, and Andreas Notter, who is Swiss. Abu Sayyaf last week threatened to behead one of the three if authorities didn’t break the cordon they had formed around the kidnappers. The government refused, saying complying would amount to surrendering Jolo to the group.

Prayers of thanks for Ms. Lacaba's release. Please continue to pray for Eugenio Vagni and Andreas Notter, and for the Philippine soldiers who stand ready to carry out a rescue operation if necessary.

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Philippine Military Prepares to Rescue Hostages
Philippine Rebels Threaten to Behead Red Cross Hostages
Kidnapped Red Cross Workers Survive Gun Battle in Philippines

Philippine Military Prepares to Rescue Hostages

Urgent prayers are needed as the Philippine Army prepares to mount a rescue attempt after the deadline set by the captors for beheading one of the hostages has passed. Via AP:

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine troops and tanks advanced toward a jungle stronghold of al-Qaida-linked extremists after a deadline expired Tuesday for the beheading of one of three Red Cross hostages in a critical juncture of the 10-week crisis.

Officials redeployed government forces near the Abu Sayyaf camp in Indanan township on southern Jolo Island and put the predominantly Muslim region under a state of emergency after talks for the safe release of the hostages became bogged down and the militants threatened to behead them by 2 p.m. Tuesday.

There was no immediate indication that any of the Swiss, Italian and Filipino hostages, who have been held since Jan. 15, were killed after the deadline expired.

More than 1,000 marines, police and militiamen, who have surrounded the militants for weeks, pulled back from around the Abu Sayyaf stronghold last week to prod the gunmen to make good on their pledge to free one hostage. But the militants reneged on their promise and insisted that troops withdraw from 15 Jolo villages — a demand rejected by the government.

"We've given them everything but they didn't budge," Jolo Gov. Sakur Tan said. "The troops are returning there."

On Tuesday, tanks and truckloads of marines rolled out of a Jolo camp toward Indanan to try to surround the gunmen in a hilly jungle, Tan said. He refused to say if a military rescue was imminent or if the troops were being brought back to force the militants to resume negotiations.

"We'll make sure that these bandits cannot kidnap again," Tan said.

Please keep Eugenio Vagni, Andreas Notter and Mary-Jean Lacaba in your prayers today. I will post updates as they are available.

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Philippine Rebels Threaten to Behead Red Cross Hostages
Kidnapped Red Cross Workers Survive Gun Battle in Philippines

Philippine Rebels Threaten to Behead Red Cross Hostages

The Abu Sayyaf rebels holding three Red Cross workers hostage since January have threatened to behead the captives in retaliation for a raid earlier this week that killed several insurgents, as well as 3 Philippine Marines. Via Soldier of Fortune:

The leader of Abu Sayyaf rebels, Albader Parad, made the threat in a radio interview Wednesday, saying he would harm one of three Red Cross workers being held. He made the comment after clashes that killed at least three soldiers and two militants.

The Red Cross is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Mary Jean Lacaba, Eugenio Vagni, and Andreas Notter, who were taken hostage on January 15. A statement says Red Cross staffers are “extremely worried” about the safety of the hostages.

The head of the local Red Cross, Philippines Senator Richard Gordon, said he spoke with Parad on Wednesday. He said Parad told him the three hostages are alive and unharmed, but very tired.

On Tuesday, a military spokesman, Gaudencio Pangilinan, said troops recovered tents and other equipment belonging to the three captives.

Abu Sayyaf gunmen have asked the Philippines military to withdraw from the area before they would enter into negotiations for the aid workers’ release.

Philippine media said the kidnappers have demanded a $1 million ransom. The government has said it will not pay.

Urgent prayers are needed for the safety of the three hostages, and for the safety of other aid workers in the Philippines and elsewhere.

Kidnapped Red Cross Workers Survive Gun Battle in Philippines

Three Red Cross workers kidnapped by Abu-Sayyaf rebels more than two months ago are reportedly unharmed after two days of fighting between Philippine Marines and their captors. Via GMA News:

MANILA, Philippines — Officials said Wednesday that three Red Cross hostages survived two days of fierce jungle clashes that killed three Marines and up to seven al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf captors in the southern Philippines.

Police Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani said the Italian, Swiss and Filipino aid workers, their hands tied, were seen running with their captors toward a mountain after the militants fought with marines near Indanan on southern Jolo Island.

Sen. Richard Gordon, who heads the local Red Cross, said he spoke with Abu Sayyaf commander Albader Parad by mobile phone and was told the hostages, who have been held for more than two months, were unharmed.

Please pray for the comfort of the families of the three Marines who were killed, and for the protection and rescue of hostages Eugenio Vagni, Andreas Notter, and Mary-Jean Lacaba.