Authorities looking for proper emissary to negotiate for Bossi’s release

By Ronron
June 12, 2007

Admitting that it has yet to establish contact with the kidnappers of Fr. Gian Carlo Bossi, authorities said Tuesday that they are looking for an emissary who can act as a liaison in planned negotiations for the release of the Italian Catholic priest.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Calderon said they hope to resolve the crisis peacefully, which is through negotiation, instead of resorting to police and military operations to rescue the 57-year-old priest.

“At present, this is not yet a case of kidnap for ransom because there is no demand yet by the suspects. We believe this could be settled peacefully. We hope to resolve this through negotiations,” Calderon told reporters in a news conference yesterday afternoon at Camp Crame.

As of yesterday, the police and military admit there is still no clear information about the whereabouts of Bossi and his captors.

“We are currently looking for their location. In fact, we have a full force in the area of Zamboanga Sibugay… So far, we still can’t say the exact location,” Lt. Col. Roberto Rabasio, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s Zamboanga-based 1st Infantry Division, said in a phone interview.

Calderon said he received information that Bossi was brought in the direction of Naga and Tungawan towns in Zamboanga Sibugay, and may be transferred later to the Cotabato area.

“All these areas are being alerted and we welcome the assistance of anybody who could help us in the release of Fr. Bossi,” Calderon said.

Rabasio disclosed there are religious people in the province who are exerting efforts to establish contact with the kidnappers but to no avail.

“They are circulating their desire through text messages. They are asking for help so that they could negotiate with the abductors,” Rabasio said of the Catholic religious leaders.

Both the police and military maintain that the suspects who abducted Bossi last Sunday morning in Payao town were led by a certain Commander Kiddie Abdulsalam, whom the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) tag as an Abu Sayyaf Group member.

Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, deputy commander of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command, said Kiddie was positively identified by witnesses as among those who forcibly took Bossi in Barangay Silal in Payao at around 9:30 am.

Bossi and the 10 armed suspects boarded two motorbancas and headed to unknown direction at sea.

The MILF has taken part in the search and rescue operations.

Bossi started his service as Payao Parish Priest in April of this year, the local police said./DMS