Zubiri to AFP: Focus on ICRC workers not on side-line issues

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri today echoed the appeal of the Catholic Church to the members of the armed forces in Mindanao to put the lives of the three Red Cross workers on top of their priority.

Zubiri said the military should "disregard side-line issues that would only distract them" from carrying out their duty and resolving the International Committee on Red Cross (ICRC) hostage crisis.

"We have to rescue the three Red Cross workers alive or we will suffer the resentment of the Red Cross community around the world," Zubiri said over DZRH radio.

"The ICRC workers are classified heroes of the world, and if something bad happens to them it will be a disgrace to our country. That's why the military has to be very careful in pursuing the rescue of the kidnapped ICRC workers."

Zubiri's statement came following the rankle between Sen. Richard Gordon and Brigadier General Juancho Sabban over the issue of kidnapped Red Cross workers who remain captive in the southern part of the country for more than two months now.

Zubiri is also a member of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Board of Governors chaired by Gordon.

"I understand why Sen. Gordon is very passionate on this issue being a member of the Red Cross. (Besides) Sen. Gordon is only doing his job as chairman of the PNRC and the hostages are his people on the line of fire."

The Majority Leader also reiterated the earlier appeal made by the Catholic leaders to the military not to put the ICRC workers in the middle of a crossfire stressing that it will do no good to the victims.

"The military has to get the Red Cross workers safe. There should be no casualty even on the part of our soldiers," he stressed.