Press Release
February 9, 2009

Gordon prays for safe and immediate release of 3 Red Cross workers

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today offered a special prayer for the safe and immediate release of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers who are being held captive in Patikul, Sulu for 25 days now.

In leading a prayer at the start of the Senate session this afternoon, Gordon, chairman and chief executive officer of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), asked for Divine Intervention so that the ICRC workers would soon be safely released.

"We thank You for blessing us with land and seas teeming with all manner of bounty, for giving us the privilege of being stewards of our land and our people, and for continuing to guide us in our journey towards the fulfillment of Your will for our nation," he said.

"We also pray for the volunteers and people, especially our PNRC and ICRC volunteers who tireless offer their efforts to help during times of disaster and grief. Bless us all with the same inspiration that drives them to do their noble and humanitarian acts," he added.

Last Jan. 15, armed men abducted Swiss Andreas Notter, 38; Italian Eugenio Vagni, 62; and Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba, 37. The three had just inspected the water and sanitation project at the Sulu provincial jail when they were seized.

The PNRC appealed anew for the safe and immediate release of the three ICRC workers but, at the same time, stressed that the Red Cross would maintain its "no-negotiation-no-ransom" policy in securing the freedom of the three humanitarian workers.

Gordon also prayed for both Muslims and Christians to learn from the mistakes of the past and for the government to develop a greater understanding of the problems besetting Mindanao, which could finally lead to peace and development in Southern Philippines.

"Finally, we pray Lord, that our losses and grief guide us towards having a deeper understanding of the problems in the South, and those that we encounter within ourselves and in our daily lives," he said.

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