Hold your ground, Gordon calls on military and abductors

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today called on both the military and the abductors to hold their ground and keep, foremost in mind, the safety of the three workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Gordon, governor of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), appealed to both parties to refrain from engaging in firefights because he seriously fears for the safety, not only of the three ICRC workers, but also of the soldiers and the abductors.

"Tumigil muna tayo sa putukan, lagyan natin ng konting distansya, though I cannot tell them what to do.. We consider, foremost, the safety of the hostages, the soldiers, the civilian volunteers and even the safety of the group holding our people hostage," he said.

"We, the Red Cross, the ICRC, the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), are concerned na nagkaroon ng putukan because we are thinking first of everyone's safety.. Not only of our people, though we worry about them most especially because we have an obligation to them, pero ganoon din sa mga sundalo at sa mga taong naliligaw ng landas," he added.

The three ICRC workers - Swiss national Andreas Notter, 38, Italian Eugenio Vagni, 62, and Filipina Jean Lacaba, 37 - have been held captive for about 26 days now by a group of armed men who later identified themselves as members of the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Gordon comforted the families of the ICRC workers and at the same time commiserated with the family of the soldier, who was reportedly slain, and the five others wounded in the encounter between the military and the abductors last Monday.

The PNRC chairman and chief executive officer appealed anew to the abductors to release the hostages unharmed, reiterating that the Red Cross and the ICRC are helping the people of Sulu and the region will be at the losing end if they would not be able to work there.

"Pakiusap ko lang, huwag niyong pababayaan yang mga tao natin, tumutulong sa inyo yan, tumutulong hanggang ngayon sa mga lugar sa Mindanao na may mahihirap. Tumutulong kami sa baha, sa mga lumilikas ng tahanan, sa mga 'internally displaced persons.' Kung aalis yan, katulad ngayon walang ICRC sa Sulu, paano natin matutulungan ang Sulu," he said.

Gordon also denied receiving any ransom demand from the members of the group who regularly contact him and stressed his willingness to talk - but not to negotiate - with them.

"They (abductors) are calling me but they have not made any demand for ransom. I answer their call because I have to keep communication lines open with them. I will listen but I will not negotiate. I can meet them in a neutral ground and we can talk because I want to know the bottom line (of their problems)," he said.