Sayyaf leader Parad OK with amnesty - Sulu official

MANILA, Philippines — The leader of the Abu Sayyaf faction behind the abduction of three Red Cross workers last January is willing to accept amnesty if the government offers one, a local official in Mindanao said on Monday. Sulu vice-governor Lady Ann Sahidulla said Albader Parad informed her of this last Saturday shortly before the release of Eugenio Vagni, the last of the Red Cross hostages freed by the al-Qaeda-linked bandit group. The two others, Mary Jean Lacaba and Andreas Notter, were released on separate dates last April. Sahidulla however said that Parad made it clear that his group would accept an amnesty only when the government finally fulfills its promised development projects in Sulu. “Gusto nila amnesty pero titingnan daw muna nila. Gusto nila Makita (na) ma-prove ng government na may development," she said in a press briefing at the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) office in Manila. [They wanted amnesty but they wanted to be sure that development programs for the province will be carried out.] Vagni, the 62-year-old aid worker for the International Committee of the Red Cross, was released past Saturday midnight in Maimbung town in Sulu after almost six months in captivity. Other hostages Senator Francis Escudero said that after Vagni’s release, the government should now focus its efforts on the three teachers who remain in captivity in Basilan province. Escudero reminded the government about the plight of Jocelyn Enriquez, Jocelyn Inion and Noemi Mandi, who were abducted last March 13 off Bangkaw-Bangkaw village in Naga town, Zamboanga Sibugay while on their way home. “The end of Mister Vagni’s ordeal should convince those working behind the scenes to exert more effort in securing the release of other Abu Sayyaf hostages," the senator said. The three, who all taught at Bangkaw-Bangkaw Elementary School, were then reportedly turned over to the group of Furuji Indama, an Abu Sayyaf commander based in a coastal village in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan. There have been reports that Mandi died in captivity but the government is yet to confirm this. Senator Rodolfo Biazon, for his part, said Vagni’s release gave the signal for the military and police forces to pursue the kidnappers and destroy them totally in order to return normalcy in Jolo, Basilan, Zamboanga and other areas in Central Mindanao. He said socio-economic programs by government and non-government organizations could not be implemented effectively in the areas for as long as the terrorists and kidnappers are running free. Unlike ‘Robot’ Sahidulla said that while Parad “was ready to lay down their arms," he and his companions do not want to be taken out of Sulu. “Kung mag-surrender kasi dadalhin pa ‘yan kung saan. Kung puwede daw dun na lang sana kasi kinatatakutan nila ‘yung nagyari kay Robot [Parad said they did not want to be flown out of Sulu because of what happened to Robot]," she said. Parad was referring to Ghalib Andang alias Kumander Robot, the Abu Sayyaf leader in Sulu who was arrested in 2003 but was killed in 2005 when he and other members of the group staged an uprising inside the Camp Bagong Diwa detention center in Taguig. Sen. Richard Gordon, Philippine National Red Cross chairman, said he welcomed the idea of Parad’s group finally giving up armed fighting with government troops. “I think it’s time that the government take the initiative in making sure that we offer some form of amnesty to this people, if that is all possible," Gordon said. He quickly added that this was his personal position and not the PNRC’s. - with Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV