Press Release
January 17, 2009

KIKO TO MILF: HELP GOV'T WIPE OUT ABU SAYYAF

Independent Senator Kiko Pangilinan today challenged the separatist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to continue helping the Philippine government in wiping out the Abu Sayyaf.

Commenting on the abduction of three workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the MILF's claim that they, too, were in pursuit of Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad and his men, Kiko said that the MILF can continue helping the government eliminate the members of the terrorist group and restore peace and security to war-torn areas of the South.

"Perhaps both the MILF and government troops can work together to safely recover our friends from the ICRC. Then, this can pave the way for peace talks and allow us to move forward as one nation," Kiko suggested.

Both the government and the MILF have expressed their agreement to resume the peace talks "as soon as possible and without conditions," various reports said. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said on Friday that peace talks were expected to resume within the first quarter of the year.

Andreas Notter, a Swiss national and head of the ICRC office in Zamboanga City; Eugenio Vagni, an Italian; and Jean Lacaba, a Filipino engineer, were in the midst of a humanitarian mission in Palikut, Jolo when they were seized at gunpoint on Thursday morning. According to reports by the Defense Department, the three have been taken by their abductors to Talipao, Sulu. Both government troops and MILF operatives have joined the hunt for Parad and his group of bandits.

"We must do everything we can to save the lives of these people who have sacrificed so much to help our conflict-torn communities in Mindanao. Our priority should be to restore peace and security so that our countrymen can begin rebuilding their lives," Kiko exhorted.

News Latest News Feed