Bossi is still alive – Esperon

By Ronron
June 30, 2007

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said on Saturday that abducted Italian Catholic priest Fr. Gian Carlo Bossi is still alive.

The announcement was made 20 days since Bossi was snatched last June 10 in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay by 10 armed men while he was on his way to officiate mass in a remote barangay.

“One thing I know, he’s alive,” Esperon said in a phone interview.

“But let’s just leave it at that,” he continued, saying he does not want to jeopardize ongoing operations to rescue the 57-year-old priest by revealing other details.

Esperon said the Army troops operating in Zamboanga Sibugay has already identified the “general location” of Bossi and his captors, and they are not stopping their operations.

“I am closely monitoring the operations there. Rest assured that our units there will not stop their operations. Our brigades are busy with it,” he said.

Asked if similar developments are happening in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur where the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is leading the rescue operations for Bossi, Esperon responded positively.

The MILF operations in the Lanao provinces is sanctioned by the GRP-MILF Adhoc Joint Action Group, while that in Zamboanga Sibugay is only by the Philippine Army.

Though separate, officials say both operations will be good for the fast resolution of the crisis./DMS