Sulu leaders unite to seek release of Red Cross officials

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Political leaders and 18 municipal mayors in Sulu set aside their differences and forged an alliance Thursday night to help Gov. Sakur Tan resolve the hostage crisis involving three officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) now entering its fourth week, the military said.

Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, chief of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command, said Tan, who heads the provincial crisis committee, has tapped Muslim local and religious leaders for a concerted effort in seeking the freedom of Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni, and Filipina Marie Jean Lacaba.

Allaga said the present situation does not call for them yet to launch a military option for the recovery of the three hostages from their Abu Sayyap captors.

He said it will be the provincial crisis committee that will make this decision.

“The situation does not call yet for that option because we are thinking of the safety of the hostages. There are efforts being done and we are looking at positive developments,” he said.

Meanwhile, Allaga believes that the victims appeared “under duress” or “coerced” by their Abu Sayyaf captors when they made an appeal for negotiations over a radio station in Manila.

“Remember they are not on their own free will,” he said.