Additional troops sent to Zamboanga Sibugay to help look for Bossi

By Ronron
June 13, 2007

Additional troops from another Army battalion were sent to Zamboanga Sibugay province last Tuesday to help in the search for kidnapped Italian Catholic priest Fr. Gian Carlo Bossi.

Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer, said some components of the Philippine Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion have been deployed to join troops from the 18th IB and policemen conducting search and rescue operations for Bossi.

“We are collaborating efforts. I think the governor will be calling for a meeting to really tap somebody to facilitate the release of Bossi. There is no slackening of efforts being conducted particularly in the rescue attempt,” Bacarro told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo Wednesday.

Bacarro said search and rescue operatives are still concentrating within Zamboanga Sibugay.

He said a total of six Philippine Navy crafts are currently involved in the naval blockade in the area, considering the fact that Bossi was taken off to the sea after he was abducted last Sunday morning in Payao town.

Authorities have attributed the abduction of the 57-year-old priest to a certain Commander Kiddie, who is allegedly an Abu Sayyaf member, according to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

So far, no communication with authorities or those close to Bossi have been made by the suspects./DMS