MILF eager to launch rescue operations against Bossi abductors

By Ronron
June 19, 2007

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was keen on launching an offensive yesterday (Tuesday) to rescue Italian Catholic priest Fr. Gian Carlo Bossi from his captors at an undisclosed place in Mindanao.

But, according to Maj .Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino, government chairman in the GRP-MILF Adhoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the officers on the field, prevailed against the MILF plan, saying that the safety of Bossi could be placed at risk.

“The direction of the talks this morning (between the MILF and the AFP officers on the field) is that there will be a sweeping operation… That is the concept presented by the MILF, that there will be a sweeping operation by the AFP, and then the MILF will serve as blocking force,” Dolorfino told Defense reporters by phone.

“But I told the battalion commander (from the AFP) that it will endanger the safety of Fr. Bossi, so let’s just follow the procedures in resolving hostage-taking situations,” he added.

Dolorfino refused to identify the name of the battalion commander as it might provide hint on the location of Bossi and his captors. He and the MILF had only said that the search and rescue operations is already being conducted outside of Zamboanga Sibugay province where Bossi was originally abducted last June 10.

Dolorfino said the military battalion commander was able to convince the MILF, particularly Mohammad Nasif of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) who is leading the negotiations with the 15 suspects, to just drop their plan.

“They did not push it through because it was not advisable to do that. So I told them to fix that, determine the location of the kidnappers, and then cordon the area,” Dolorfino said.

“If you constrict them through a cordon, they will be forced to negotiate,” he added.

Aside from two BIAF brigades, with a strength of no more than a thousand, the AFP also sent in an Army battalion, a Scout Ranger company, and other special units in the area, together with some police elements.

Dolorfino said the MILF is currently discussing to add reinforcement to their existing troops.

Dolorfino admitted that last Monday’s negotiation with the captor through an emissary yielded negative results. He said it was caused by a problem “something internal with the MILF,” but would not expound yet.

The negotiations have yet to resume as of this writing.

“As of now, for today, there was no negotiations undertaken because they were talking about that proposed sweeping operations… But it doesn’t mean that it’s already called off… We have to continue that because that is the proper solution there,” Dolorfino said.

Although, he said “everything” is being planned, including rescue operations, which may be carried out “as soon as we are ready on the ground.”

Bossi was supposed to officiate mass at the Barangay Bulawan in Payao town in Zamboanga Sibugay when he was snatched at around 9:30 am last June 10 by 10 armed men./DMS