Philippines Government Attempts To Free Kidnapped Priest

Major-General Benjamin Dolorfino told journalists there must be a "proof of life" before negotiations can begin. He said however that the three Muslim men, who had helped free hostages in the past, left Iligan City for an undisclosed place in the Lanao provinces to open communications with the kidnappers of Giancarlo Bossi who is in his late 50s.

"Once contact has been established and there is proof of life, we will relay this to authorities, and steps would be taken after that," he stressed. Dolorfino said he asked the emissaries to tell the kidnappers "not to rush because things really take time."

The emissaries were also given some money to buy medicine for Bossi, who was said to suffer from hypertension, news reports said. Bossi was reportedly abducted on June 10 in Payao town in Zamboanga Sibugay province, 810 kilometres (506 miles) south of Manila.

Bossi, 57, had been working with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME). His kidnappers have not yet issued any demands for his release, news reports said.

RUN-AWAY REBELS

The military suspects gunmen belonging to a run-away faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have abducted Bossi. The MILF, the largest rebel group in the south of the mainly
Roman Catholic country, has been helping in attempts to free Bossi, the third Italian priest to
be kidnapped since the late 1990s.

In October 2001, Guiseppe Pierantoni was kidnapped in nearby Zamboanga del Sur province. He was rescued six months later during a military operation. In September 1998, Luciano Benedetti was abducted in Zamboanga del Norte province. He was released 69 days later after ransom was allegedly paid to his captors, news agencies said.

Since 1997, the government and the MILF have been talking to end nearly 40 years of rebellion that has killed more than 120,000 people and displaced 2 million. The battles has been slowing down growth in resource-rich Mindanao, analysts say.

News of the attempts to free the kidnapped priest came as the Catholic Church on Tuesday, June 26, was also dealing with an alleged potential ecological crisis.

GOVERNMENT CRITICIZED

In comments seen by BosNewsLife, Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa objected to the proposed establishment of a resort and spa in Taal Volcano in Batangas province, south of the capital Manila.

"The church in Lipa appeals to the government to respect Taal volcano island as a national sanctuary and unique treasure," the archbishop said. "It must be open to all when safe and never used for profit ventures especially by foreigners," the prelate added.

The Philippines’ government is seeking ways to boost investments, but has been at odds with the church over policy. Tuesday’s attempts to free the priest did apparently not immediately ease tensions over other issues. (With BosNewsLife News Center).