Military says Bossi search now yielding positive developments, results may be seen within 48 hours

By Ronron
June 17, 2007

A military commander said on Sunday that the search and rescue operations for kidnapped Italian Catholic priest Fr. Gian Carlo Bossi in Zamboanga Sibugay province may yield positive results within 48 hours from yesterday.

In a phone interview, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) National Capital Region Command (NCRCom), said there are already positive developments that may “very soon resolve this case.”

Dolorfino, who is also the government’s chairman in the Adhoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), issued the statement exactly a week since Bossi, 57, was abducted by around 10 armed suspects in Payao town, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Bossi, according to Dolorfino, was taken by his captors to the mountains of Barangay Mamagun in Naga town of the same province, based on information he received from both the military officer on the field and his counterpart in the MILF.

Elements of the 102nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the MILF Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces are jointly conducting search and rescue operations for Bossi, Dolorfino had said.

“We might see a resolution of the case very soon, maybe within 48 hours. I received information about a very encouraging development just a while ago,” Dolorfino said when reached by phone shortly before 3pm yesterday.

But he would not say if the means is by negotiation or military operations for fear that it could jeopardize the ongoing activity.

“I would rather not disclose it now because it could spread around the media. This is a very critical stage now,” Dolorfino said.

Both Dolorfino and Zamboanga Sibugay Police Director Sr. Supt. Francisco Cristobal, Jr. said Bossi remains alive to this date.

“His captors will not benefit anything if they kill Fr. Bossi,” Cristobal said in a separate interview.

While Dolorfino said the search for Bossi is concentrated in Naga town, Cristobal said the police is extending the same to other neighboring towns in the same province.

As of yesterday, Cristobal said police has yet to receive communication from the suspects.

Dolorfino maintains that the motive for the abduction is ransom./DMS