By Ronron
June 11, 2007
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Monday disowned Commander Kiddie (not Khidi as earlier spelled), whom the military tagged earlier as an MILF member responsible for the abduction of Italian Catholic priest Fr. Gian Carlo Bossi in Zamboanga Sibugay.
MILF Public Information Officer and chief negotiator with the government Mohagher Iqbal told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that Kiddie, whose real name is Kiddie Abdulsalam, is an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member who operates in the Zamboanga provinces.
“He is a notorious person since the 1990’s, having been involved in past kidnapping cases. He is not an MILF member… He is an Abu Sayyaf who has been operating in the Zamboanga peninsula,” Iqbal said of Kiddie.
Col. Godofredo Paderanga, chief of the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division Civil Military Operations, was quick to attribute the abduction of Bossi last Sunday to Kiddie, whom authorities recognize as an MILF member.
The abduction was perpetrated by 10 fully armed men while Bossi was on his way to Barangay Bulawan in Payao town to administer Holy Mass.
Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command Deputy Chief Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban said Kiddie was positively identified by a local resident who witnessed the snatching incident in Sitio Talubtob, Barangay Silal in Payao town.
“Well, if it’s true that he’s not an MILF member, then it’s good so that we can push harder in our operations,” Sabban said, disclosing that it is the 102nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army that is working with the provincial police offices of Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Sur in the conduct of search and rescue operations.
The police, for its part, would still not categorically say that Kiddie is indeed the suspect, saying the information is still being validated.
Sabban said they believe that the 57-year-old priest and his captors have not yet gone out of the Zamboanga peninsula, saying they used two small motorboats only during their escape.
In coordination with Philippine forces, the MILF forces, said Iqbal, were also mobilized to help in the search and rescue operations, especially those based in the islets between Zamboanga and Basilan.
“I hope they really help us because the initial reports point to one of their members as the suspect. I hope they tell their men on the field that if their comrade is involved, they should turn over Fr. Bossi immediately,” Sr. Supt. Francisco Cristobal, Jr., chief of the Zamboanga Sibugay Police Provincial Office, appealed to the MILF.
Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino, government chairman in the GRP-MILF Adhoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), said in a separate interview that they have a general idea of Kiddie’s location but would not disclose it so as no to jeopardize the operations.
“GRP-MILF AHJAG team members are closely in touch… They are checking on the reports about their (Bossi and his captors) possible location. My instruction to them is to contain them (kidnappers) and immobilize them,” Dolorfino told Defense reporters at Camp Aguinaldo.
“If the rescue is not possible, they should go for the negotiated release. What is important is the safety of the victim,” he added.
Cristobal said the Philippine Navy in Zamboanga have already established a naval blockade in the area, while police stations in neighboring towns are conducted regular sea-borne patrols.
As of yesterday, Cristobal said there is still no group that owned up the abduction and no communication from the suspects have reached yet the authorities or those close to Bossi.
Bossi started serving in the parish of Payao in April of this year, and so far, there was no prior threat against his safety and security, Cristobal said.
In October 2001, Italian Catholic priest Giuseppe Pierantoni was also abducted in Zamboanga del Sur but was rescued in April of the following year./DMS
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