Military monitors kidnap threat vs Italian priests in Zambo

Sun.Star: A ranking military official on Thursday said there are threats anew to kidnap Italian priests assigned within the Zamboanga Peninsula areas. Major General Nehemias Pajarito, chief of the Army's 1st Infantry Division said the threat was monitored after the release of kidnapped Italian priest, Fr. Gian Carlo Bossi. Gunmen seized Fr. Bossi, 57, on June 10 2007 while he was on his way to celebrate a mass in coastal town of Payao in Zamboanga Sibugay province. He was freed on July 19, 2007 in Karomatan, Lanao del Norte due to intense pressures brought about by continuous police and military pursuit operations. So far, Pajarito said there are only four Italian priests on missionary service in the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Sur that fall within his area of operations. He said they have already coordinated with the superiors of the Italian priest, who are all under the Pontificio Istituto Missioni Estere (Pime), to initiate precautionary measures. They have requested the Pime to transfer the four Italian priests to safer areas as part of the precautionary measures, Pajarito said. Since the Italian priests are mission-oriented and have to stay in the two Zamboanga provinces, they have been provided ample security for the safety of the foreign missionaries, he said. "It (kidnap threat) can come from any group who are interested in generating funds by kidnapping," Pajarito said. The lead agency in providing security to the Italian priest is the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Pajarito's command serves as back-up force. "We can only provide security within our capability, but giving an assurance, there is no guarantee for safety," he said. For the past several years, Italian priests had been rendering missionary services in the different parts of the region. - Sun.Star