KIKO SLAMS KIDNAPPING OF INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS

Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan slammed as 'another black eye' the kidnapping of a group of workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Jolo.

Commenting on the abduction of Swiss national Andreas Notter,Italian Eugenio Vagni, and Filipina Jean Lacaba, Kiko said that the incident 'creates the ugly picture for the international community that our country is like the wild, wild West of old where the rule of the gun rather than the rule of law prevails.'

"It is another black eye for the rule of law and the fight against criminality,' remarked Kiko, who is a judicial reform advocate and a former student activist.

Notter, Vagni, and Lacaba were in the midst of a humanitarian mission, conducting a water and sanitation project for inmates of a jail in Patikul when their Red Cross vehicle was stopped by armed men. Three other Filipinos who were in the vehicle were robbed of their possessions but were released. Notter, Vagni, and Lacaba were taken captive and have not been heard from since.

News reports have linked a former jail guard to the kidnapping. The Abu Sayyaf is also suspected to be behind the abduction, although no confirmation has yet been received.

ICRC spokesman Roland Bigler reassured the Philippines that the agency would not suspend its humanitarian work in the south, especially because hundreds of thousands of residents are continuously being displaced due to the ongoing conflict between government troops and Muslim militants. However, Kiko warned Malacanang of the effects of this incident on Philippine relations with international aid groups.

"We all suffer when government is unable to ensure the safety of our citizens and volunteers such as those coming from the Red Cross,' Kiko pointed out.

Foreign press have tagged this incident 'the worst hostage crisis since Abu Sayyaf guerillas kidnapped foreign (tourists) several year ago,' referring to the 2001 hostage crisis that involve the death of American missionary Martin Burnham and several others.