The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Thursday that it has become frustrated and upset as its volunteer, Italian Eugenio Vagni, remains in captivity in Sulu province.

"It is very upsetting and frustrating that Eugenio is still being held," said Alain Aeschlimann, ICRC's head of operations in East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific, adding that the Italian volunteers has been held captive for 25 weeks.

Aeschlimann said the Italian volunteer's last communication with his family as on June 26.

"As ever, we're worried about him. We appeal to the kidnappers once again to release him unconditionally so that he can rejoin his family, who miss him very much," the ICRC

Abu Sayyaf bandits kidnapped Vagni and two other ICRC volunteers, Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba and Swiss Andreas Notter, in Patikul town in Sulu province last January 15. The other two volunteers were released on April.

The military believes the bandits are hiding Vagni somewhere in the vast jungles of Indanan town.

The ICRC official said Vagni's family has become more worried for his safety because of the bloody bombing near a church in Jolo town on Tuesday, where two persons and 17 others were injured.

Another bomb exploded in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte the same day, wounding 12 people.

"The news of this week's incident in Sulu was particularly disturbing to Eugenio's family and also to his friends and ICRC colleagues," he said.

Abu Sayyaf

Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of the Marines-led Joint Task Force Comet, has blamed the Jolo bombing on the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Sabban said the use of a bomb-rigged motorcycle in the blast indicates the bandit group's involvement. He said the same type of bomb attack was used in the failed ambush of Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan..

The Marines commander announced Thursday that three hours after the bombing, six suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits were arrested by military forces in Barangay Tagbak in Indanan town.

Among the arrested bandits were two women, who are the alleged wives of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Albader Parad, who has claimed responsibility in the kidnapping of the ICRC members.

Sabban said the six suspects were directly involved in the kidnapping. He said the two wives provided logistical and service support in terms of vehicle, purchase and delivery of food and similar commodities to their fellow bandits.

The ICRC said it is in regular contact with local officials for updates on Vagni's case. The aid group said it remains hopeful that the Italian aid worker will be released unharmed by the kidnappers.