Government turns to local politicians and Moslem leaders for Bossi’s release

By Ronron
June 22, 2007

Admitting that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has yet to officially communicate with the kidnappers of Italian Catholic priest Fr. Gian Carlo Bossi, the government on Friday said they have tapped the services of local officials and Moslem leaders to help in the rescue operations for the 57-year-old victim.

Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino, chairman of the government’s Adhoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) with the MILF, said he already communicated with Lanao del Norte Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo yesterday morning to seek his help in tracing the whereabouts of Bossi and his captors.

At the same time, he reached out to his Moslem brothers who are Sultans in the province to also give their share in the search and rescue operations.

“As of now, there is no direct contact with the kidnappers. So I have already asked for the help of local officials. I talked with Congressman Dimaporo and he has mobilized the mayors of Salvador, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, and Nunungan (all in Lanao del Norte),” Dolorfino told reporters yesterday in Camp Aguinaldo.

He disclosed that the Sultans have also found a local group of concerned citizens that volunteered to negotiate but was denied for now due to their failure to get a proof of life of Bossi.

Dolorfino reported that Government Peace Panel Officer-in-Charge Rudy Rodil already approved on Thursday night the special authority given to the GRP-MILF AHJAG to continue the operations for Bossi’s release, and this paved the way for the resumption of the joint efforts on the ground.

Dolorfino said the concentration of the efforts is in the boundary of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, although Zamboanga Sibugay, where Bossi was abducted last June 10, remains under watch.

The official, who is the chief of the National Capital Region Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said elements from two brigades of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) were poured in at the Lanao area, supported by troops from the Philippine Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, while elements of the Philippine Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade are guarding in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Dolorfino said the check done by government troops in the mountainous barangay of Sapad in Nunungan, Lanao del Norte yielded negative results. Dolorfino said the information was originally supplied by the MILF.

Despite this, he said the monitoring in said area continues. “The mere fact that the MILF is concentrating its forces in the area means the kidnappers could be there,” he said.

But Dolorfino admitted he is puzzled why the kidnappers refused to initiate communication with authorities or relatives with Bossi up to this date, like ask for ransom if that is really their intention.

“That is a puzzle… But something is being done to solve the puzzle,” he said, without elaborating.

Nonetheless, he said he remains confident that the MILF is sincere in its efforts to get Bossi, having worked with the secessionist group’s AHJAG since 2005.

“It will backfire to them if in the end, we were deceived that Fr. Bossi and his captors are not in that area,” said Dolorfino.

“But I’m optimistic that he (Bossi) will be released,” he added.

He also believes Bossi is still alive and that he remains in the mainland and has not been transported to Basilan for example.

Bossi was supposed to officiate mass in Barangay Bulawan in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay when he was snatched by 10 armed men.

The military initially accused renegade members of the MILF as responsible for the abduction, but the MILF denied it and pointed at Abu Sayyaf members instead.

The military now, however, tags the members as neophyte lawless elements that has relatives in the MILF membership./DMS