Italian hostage Vagni freed

[samsungster]

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Eugenio Vagni, the Italian worker of the International Committee Red Cross (ICRC) who was held captive for six months by extremist rebels in Sulu, was freed early Sunday, authorities said.

Vagni was freed at around 1:05 a.m, said Gwen Pang, Philippine National Red Cross secretary-general.

“He is now receiving initial medical care at the 3rd Marine Brigade in Sulu,” Pang added.

The information, she noted, was confirmed to her and Senator Richard Gordon, PNRC chairman, by the chief of police of Sulu province.

In a separate television interview, Gordon maintained that neither the Italian Government nor the Red Cross paid ransom.

"The ICRC or the PNRC will not pay any ransom... The Italian government, they did not pay ransom as far as I know," he said.

John Robert Esperat also of ICRC confirmed Vagni’s release, saying “he is okay.”
Esperat said Vagni was expected in Zamboanga by noon Sunday.

“There will be medical check-ups, after which he will be flying out of the country. We are very happy and glad for his release,” Esperat said.

A PNRC statement said, “Eugenio is ok and in relatively good health. We thank those who have continued praying for his safe release.”

Armed Forces Chief Victor Ibrado, in a text message to INQUIRER.net, said there was a plan to transport Vagni to Manila.

In an earlier interview, Pang said Vice-Governor Lady Anne Sahidulla went to the Abu Sayyaf lair in Indanan, Sulu on Saturday afternoon to pick up Vagni, a water systems expert who, prior to his release, was reported to have been suffering from hypertension and hernia.

In a radio interview, Sahidulla said Vagni lost some weight and has difficulty walking.

"He's very grateful that he's safe. He didn't ask for anything. He didn't know where he was taken for six months," Sahidulla said.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, in a statement, had expressed "great satisfaction following the freeing, which has just happened, of our compatriot Eugenio Vagni."

Frattini also passed on his "gratitude to the Philippine authorities."

Vagni, 62, was seized by the militant group Abu Sayyaf with ICRC colleagues Andreas Notter of Switzerland and Mary Jean Lacaba of the Philippines in January while on a humanitarian mission on Jolo island.

In March a spokesman for Abu Sayyaf said one of the three captives would be beheaded if government forces did not withdraw from the island.

Manila initially rejected the demand, but relented after the ICRC's president in Geneva made a rare public appeal for cooperation to save the lives of the three.

Troops retreated from the Abu Sayyaf's jungle area, effectively leaving five towns on the island of Jolo under the group's control.

Notter and Lacaba were freed the following month, although the terms of their release were not disclosed by either side.


Italian hostage Vagni freed - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
The militants last month made a ransom demand for Vagni's release.

[peertian]

yahh.. i saw it sa news..good news jud ni kaayo kay i thought before na basin patay na si vagni..but luoy kaayo sya..pila ka months sya na hostage..but the abu sayaff called him abu as a sign of respect.

[jrconde]

duda ko sa nahitabo, murag naa cguro hokus pukos da.

[colossus]

After months of waiting, the last ICRC hostage of the ASG has been released. Some reports were insinuating that there has been swapping after the wives of the known ASG members were arrested due to their involvement in the recent bombings. I suppose it is a factor, but not the sole cause. At least, these hostage takers know now the feeling when their families are taken by someone they do not know. An eye for an eye, perhaps.

I could still remember reports by media before saying that Vagni is already dead. It's good that the military never failed to rescue Vagni as they have their own reports that he is still alive. We should commend the military because they lives were risked, and in fact, some lives were sacrificed, if only to rescue the hostage.

[baby_grace]

I'm glad that Eugenio Vagni has been released. But there were events that transpired which should not have happened. It would have been better had Lady Ann Sahidullah controlled herself in giving cigarette money and for the AFP to release the wives of Al Bader Parad. These are minor events but it's better if these never happened.

Anyways, now that Vagni has been released, the military will continue to pursue the ASG. The military will not stop not even with Gordon proposing an amnesty for the elder ASG leaders. We should not allow politics to get in the way of applying the law to these bandits.

[pridi]

Politics pa rin yan mga pare.... We never know who's behind a new scene...

[nirdle_phogi]

nah.. mosamot na jud to ka-hitech ang mga armas sa ASG..

[COMCAM]

tsk loose firearms again, nahalin napud

[Mz.Sassy21]

uu nga politics pa rin yan!!

[Mz.Sassy21]

ahw oh mas hitech pa sa SWAT!!