Timeline: Kidnapping Of ICRC Hostages by the Abu Sayyaf Group
Maria Althea Teves and Purple Romero, abs-cbnNEWS.com/ Newsbreak | 03/31/2009 1:59 PM
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Key events relating to the kidnapping of three personnel of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) by the Abu Sayyaf Group.
January 15, 2009
Gunmen on motorcycles intercept a vehicle carrying three representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The workers are 62 year-old Italian national Eugenio Vagni; 38 year-old Swiss national Andreas Notter; and 44 year-old Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba.
The Palace immediately directs the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct an all-out pursuit of the kidnappers of the Red Cross team in Sulu.
January 16, 2009
RP troops hunt for the abducted International Red Cross workers from Italy, Switzerland and the Philippines.
Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, head of Jolo’s anti-terrorism task force, says the vehicle of the ICRC workers was found abandoned near the mountainous Patikul town, where Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) members hide.
AFP Western Mindanao Command (WMC) says that the group of ASG leader Albader Parad was likely behind the ICRC kidnapping. The same group was also responsible for kidnapping ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon and two other network employees June 2008.
It is reported that three minors who worked as gunmen for the ASG were the ones who kidnapped the ICRC workers. United Nations (UN) aid workers express their concern in the past over the recruitment of children by armed rebel groups in Mindanao.
January 17, 2009
The Red Cross says that the kidnapped ICRC workers are unharmed.
Anna Nelson, spokeswoman for the ICRC, reports that there is no information on the whereabouts of the kidnapped workers.
Chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross Sen. Richard Gordon announced that “proof of life” of abducted was obtained from the group.
The military imposes a temporary news blackout on the operation to free the ICRC workers kidnapped by the ASG. The AFP’s WMC announces that it will not anymore release any information about the progress of the rescue mission.
January 18, 2009
A police officer identifies three of the five suspects in the kidnapping of the three ICRC workers being sought by authorities but declines to disclose their names.
Gordon says that the no-ransom policy will be maintained in the ICRC kidnapping.
January 19, 2009
Malacañang appeals to the Swiss and Italian governments to refrain from paying ransom to seek the release of their kidnapped nationals. Spokesperson Fajardo says the two governments should just coordinate their efforts with the Philippines and leave the negotiations to the responsible authorities.
Jean-Daniel Tauxe, head of the ICRC delegation in Manila announces that despite the kidnapping, the ICRC will continue to provide assistance in conflict areas in Mindanao.
January 20, 2009
Sen. Gordon denies that the ICRC sent negotiators to free their workers. According to Gordon, the ICRC team that went to Mindanao just replaced the tired members of the ICRC team who have been waiting for the release of the kidnapped ICRC staff.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) chief makes a plea for the release of the abducted ICRC workers. CBCP President Angel Lagdameo writes an article in their website to the captors for the safe release of the victims.
January 21, 2009
US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Anne Kenney says that unless the concerned authorities request assistance, the US government’s role in the rescue operations of the ICRC workers will be limited to information sharing.
The ICRC office loses contact with the abducted workers.
January 22, 2009
After a week of the abduction, ICRC appeals for the “rapid and unconditional” release of the abducted workers.
Alain Aeschlimann, head of ICRC operations for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific writes a statement in their website to let the abducted workers free “as quickly as possible.”
Gordon says that the three workers abducted have not called the Manila headquarters for two days to brief them on their condition. According to Gordon, the Red Cross is assuming that the Sulu local government is taking steps to ensure safety of their release.
January 23, 2009
National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro says that the Philippine troops have been ordered not to use force to rescue the three kidnapped ICRC workers.
January 26, 2009
Abducted volunteer workers renew their contact with ICRC and Sen. Gordon. Gordon says that he has spoken to the three over the weekend and that they are well.
January 27, 2009
ASG kidnappers demand P5 million in exchange for the release of Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba. Gordon says that they will stick to the no-ransom stand of Red Cross.
Meanwhile, officials say that militants are hiding the hostages in Indanan town. They say that the local troops, aided by US military intelligence, sealed off the area to prevent the Abu Sayyaf militants from escaping.
January 28, 2009
A picture of the three abducted workers, with Sulu Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidulla, is released as proof that the workers are still alive.
January 29, 2009
The AFP expresses confidence that the ICRC hostages will be released soon by the Abu Sayyaf.
January 30, 2009
The ICRC insists on the bid for the unconditional release of their three volunteer workers.
January 31, 2009
Sulu Governor Sakur Tan reiterates that there will be a no-ransom policy and says that any payment of money for the release of three Red Cross workers for it will be used by the Abu Sayyaf to purchase more weapons.
February 2, 2009
ICRC Task Force issues a bulletin saying that Italian captive Vagni is suffering from hypertension and that medicines were delivered to the hostages.
Abu Sayyaf leaders release a letter, written in English, claiming custody of the ICRC workers and saying that they want military operations in Sulu province to stop in exchange for the release of the three workers. The letter is signed by Abu Jumdail, alias Doctor Abu, Raddulan Sahiron alias “Komander Putol,” and KUmander Alabader Parad.
February 3, 2009
The AFP announces that it is checking the authenticity of the letter written by Abu Sayyaf leaders claiming custody of the ICRC workers, says AFP public affairs chief Lt. Colonel Ernesto Torres.
Torres adds that they cannot give into the demands of the ASG of pulling out of military troops saying this will make it difficult to stop the kidnappings in Sulu.
February 4, 2009
Malacañang asks the help of National Security Council and the Sulu provincial crisis committee to decide whether they will give into the demands of the ASG to have Vice President Noli De Castro negotiate for the release of the hostages.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde says that even if De Castro agrees, he will need a clearance from the NSC and the Sulu provincial crisis committee.
The military rejects the pullout requested by the AFP.
February 5, 2009
Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman declines ASG’s request for him to act as negotiator for the release of the three ICRC workers.
Aeschlimann confirms that abducted workers are in good health. He says that some days ago, the three were able to make phone calls to their loved ones. He says he is hopeful for their release.
February 6, 2009
PNP expresses its support for the Palace’s stance that it will not order, for now, a full military operation against the ASG in order to rescue the abducted workers.
Sen. Gordon believes that the three kidnapped workers were forced by the Abu Sayyaf to call on the government for their release. Gordon adds that the workers demand “peace, not ransom.”
February 8, 2009
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) says on its website that its men in Sulu are verifying the supposed ransom demanded by the ASG of between P5-10 million.
MILF deputy spokesman Khaled Musa says that the government, despite adhering to their no-ransom policy, has no option but to negotiate on the monetary demand.
Police says that despite the government forces clash with the Abu Sayyaf militants, there were no reports of casualties on both sides in that fight that erupted in the village called Timpook today.
February 9, 2009
Five Marines were wounded as military closes in on the Abu Sayyaf in Paligue village in Indanan, Sulu, where the ICRC hostages are said to be held.
February 10, 2009
Sen. Gordon urges the AFP to halt operations for it may lead to harming the ICRC workers.
According to the Philippine military, the ICRC workers abducted are unharmed during the Feb. 9 encounter between military troops and the ASG.
February 11, 2009
AFP tells its troops in Sulu not to fire unless the ASG fires first.
February 14, 2009
Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. advises government to seek the help of US military by lending intelligence and surveillance equipment in tracking down and rescuing the ICRC hostages.
February 16, 2009
Military troops slow down operations in Sulu to give way for the release negotiations of the ICRC workers. But AFP civil relations chief Brig. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan says that this does not mean that the military has stopped cordoning off the ASG.
February 17, 2009
Task force in handling the ICRC hostage crisis denies the request of former rebel leader Nur Misuari, chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to be the kidnap negotiator.
Notter, the Swiss ICRC hostage, says that it is difficult to understand what is taking the government so long in negotiating for their release.
February 19, 2009
ICRC’s Aeschlimann says that their workers are doing okay despite the difficult living conditions they are facing. ICRC is calling for the immediate release of their workers.
February 21, 2009
MILF reminds MNLF chair Misuari not to make preconditions in seeking the release of the ICRC workers. “This is a grave violation of the fundamentals of negotiation. Precondition is not in the vocabulary of the negotiator. This is dictation,” says MILF political officer Hasan Hattab in their website.
February 24, 2009
AFP civil relations chief Brig. Gen. Pangilian says that there will be no pullout of government troops in Sulu, as they also have the blessings of Task Force ICRC and Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan.
February 25, 2009
Sulu Gov. Tan says that they have no word on illness of the two ICRC hostages Italian Vagni and Filipina Lacaba. Defense Secretary Teodoro says that the reported ailments of the two hostages by the ASG could be part of the tactics of the kidnappers to get public’s sympathy.
February 26, 2009
The ICRC appeals to the ASG saying that their families are suffering horribly. Aeschlimann says that he met with the families of the three hostages.
February 27, 2009
The ICRC sent fresh supplies of medicines to the kidnapped ICRC workers. Aeschlimann says that they have no contact with the hostages since their contact with their families a week go.
February 28, 2009
Malacañang says it is still not keen on authorizing a military rescue mission despite pleas for the release of the three ICRC workers.
March 16, 2009
Troops attack ASG rebels who tried to leave cordoned areas in Indanan. ASG leader Albader Parad was reportedly wounded
March 18, 2009
Parad threatened to behead one of the European hostages if the military continues to open fire.
March 19, 2009
PNRC head Richard Gordon says Parad committed to release one of the hostages after the marines “reposition” their troops in the area. Marine commandant Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga maintained that the marines were only “pulling back, not pulling out.”
March 21, 2009
The ASG reneges on the agreement with Gordon to release a hostage and demanded a major pullout which would include civil emergency forces.
March 23, 2009
A new one-week ultimatum for a troop withdrawal in Santol in Patikul and Tagbak in Indanan begins. Prada said that the ASG will behead one of the hostages if this condition remains unmet.
March 27, 2009
DILG Sec. Ronaldo Puno rejects ASG’s demand for troop pullout. The ICRC appeals to the Philippine government to reconsider its decision. ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger urged Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to secure the safety and release of Lacaba, Vagni and Notter.
March 28, 2009
Puno announced a pullout of around 600-800 policemen and troops from the jungle area in Jolo, to start in Saturday upon the arrival of governor Abdusakur Tan and to be completed within 36 hours.
March 30, 2009
The ASG makes a third demand: withdraw all government forces from 14 Sulu villages in four towns until 5 am of March 31 or one of the hostages will be beheaded. The ASG later moves the deadline to 2 pm. Puno decried the demand as impossible and asked for a deadline extension.
The ASG refuses to budge.
Later today, Pope Benedict XVI urges the ASG to free the workers through a communiqué. "The Holy Father... asks for their release and calls on the authorities to favour a peaceful outcome to the tragic situation," the communiqué said.
March 31, 2009
Deadline set by the ASG will end 2 pm today. The ICRC issues last-minute appeal to ASG to spare the lives of humanitarian workers. Sulu Gov. Tan says that it is “un-Islamic” to hold captive hostages who are helping the needy in their town.
DILG Sec. Puno says that they have almost a very high certainty that the hostages are still alive. ICRC says that they want to confirm the proof of life of their volunteer workers.
Italy President Giorgio Napolitano pleads with the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers for the unconditional release of the hostages.
April 1, 2009
Sen. Gordon says that they still do not have proof of life of the hostages, “I only have text messages,” he said on ABS-CBN’s morning show Umagang Kay Ganda.
Puno says in a television interview that a Singaporean terrorist, serving as an interpreter for the Abu Sayyaf to the European ICRC workers, has contacted and negotiated with the families of the hostages.
Swiss Government appeals to ASG through a public statement, “Please spare lives of the hostages,”
Local authorities in Jolo Island say that the ASG, together with the three ICRC hostages, have slipped out of their hideout in Indanan, Sulu.
April 2, 2009
The AFP is still seeking confirmation of Puno’s report that the hostages are still alive.
In the evening, the ASG releases Filipina hostage Mary Jean Lacaba.
April 5
National Defense Secretary Teodoro rejects demands of ASG to withdraw military forces even after a Red Cross official warned that the remaining hostages Vagni and Notter could be beheaded.
April 9
Head of ICRC operations for East Asia Aeschlimann writes in their website that they are rejecting the idea of paying $5-million ransom demanded by the ASG for the release of their works.
April 13
National Defense Secretary Teodoro says that the two remaining hostaged ICRC workers are still alive.
April 18
The ICRC appeals for the release of Italian hostage Vagni unharmed after Swiss national Notter walked free from the ASG. Although Notter is free, it is still unclear whether he was released by the ASG or rescued by government troops.
April 21
Freed Swiss hostage Notter goes back to Switzerland to be reunited with his family.
April 23
Italian hostage Vagni is reported abandoned by ASG to another group. The government is offering a reward of P500,000 ($10,256) for information on the whereabouts of Vagni. PNP chief
Director General Jesus Verzosa says, in a statement, that 62-year-old Vagni has difficulty in walking due to hernia.
Sources: abs-cbnNEWS.com, Reuters.com, gmanews.tv, icrc.org, Associated Press, Philippine Daily Inquirer
