text & photos HADER GLANG
Freed kidnap victim, Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi, weeps as he recounts his ordeal with suspected al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf terrorists, who held him captive for 39 days in the jungles of Lanao del Norte. Photo below shows PNP chief Oscar Calderon (left), DILG Secretary Rodolfo Puno, and PNP-9 Regional Director Jaime Caringal lead Fr. Bossi to a press conference at PNP regional headquarters along R.T. Lim Boulevard in Zamboanga City.Kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi was freed Thursday night in Lanao del Norte province, exactly one month and 9 days after his abduction on June 10 in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Clad with sweater and apparently in good health, Bossi was presented yesterday by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, top police and military officials at the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional headquarters here.
Chief Supt. Jaime Caringal, police regional director in Western Mindanao, announced the recovery of Fr. Bossi Thursday night at around 9:00 p.m. at the national highway of Karomatan in Lanao del Norte province.
Caringal credited the successful recovery to Zamboanga City police chief Psupt. Manuel Barcena, who led the negotiations. "The recovery was made possible through the negotiations spearheaded by Police Superintendent Barcena."
The police official said Bossi has undergone the initial medical check up and found out in good physical condition. He added the priest will also undergo further thorough medical examinations and that debriefing will be done on him.
At the press conference, Bossi, the 57-year old missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), confirmed that Abu Sayyaf was behind his abduction since the incident on June 10 in Payao until his release.
"From the beginning, they (kidnappers) told me they were Abu Sayyaf and until the end (of captivity) they admitted and continued to say they are Abu Sayyaf," Bossi said, adding that kidnap for ransom was the motive for his abduction. “As far as I know they are looking for money. They told me to tell that they were looking for money as they were asking ransom."
He named Abu Kalid and Abu Jari as among his captors, but did not mention the brother of "Kumander Kiddie", a certain Waning Abdulsalam, believed to be arogue member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Abdulsalam together with Putot Jakaria, and Ogis Jakaria had been identified from day one of the kidnapping as among those who seized Bossi while on his way to Church in Payao for mass.
Authorities have filed charges in court against the suspects and warrant of arrests have been issued by judge in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay for illegal serious detention with robbery of one the kidnap victims.
Asked to recount his ordeal with the kidnappers, Bossi said: "I was treated well but the problem is the food. They always served me cooked rice, salt and vegetables in my breakfast, lunch and supper. That's why I lost a lot of weight."
Bossi was reportedly taken by his abductors to Basilan or Sulu, but denied being held captive in the said provinces. He said he heard two pumpboats docked in Karumatan and they were moving from one mountain to the others.
It is not known whether any ransom was paid, but the kidnappers had earlier asked for US$1 million including "board and lodging" in exchange for Bossi's safe release.
"Absolutely no ransom. We are still running after the kidnappers. This is unusual incident which requires tactic," said Secretary Puno.
Puno also disclosed the participation of a former mayor in Basilan in the effort to secure the release of the Italian priest. "The mayor (referring to ex-mayor of Tuburan Hadjarun Jamiri) was key in locating the area of Fr. Bossi."
Despite his abduction, the priest said he has no ill feelings with his abductors and that if his superiors would allow him to return to his parish in Payao, he would do and continues his mission for the people there.
"A priest is like a father and the father would like to return to his children. My heart is still in Payao.”
As Bossi was being flown to Manila Friday, 16 inmates, including four members of the Abu Sayyaf group escaped from provincial jail in Basilan, where the government forces are hunting down the beheaders of the 14 marines.
Sources from Isabela City in Basilan said the inmates sawed off the iron grills of their cells and among those who escaped were four members of the Abu Sayyaf, who had been arrested for various offenses.
The four Abu Sayyaf escapees were identified as Heting Askaline, Enteng Anjil, Abu Sampang, and Wakil Sampang. Other escapees were facing murder and frustrated murders charges and robbery with homicide as well as attempted murders.
The prisoners broke a window open with an iron bar and then using blankets and ropes to climb down, according to the source.
The incident was the second to occur in the provincial jail in Basilan province. In April 10, 2004, 53 inmates, including several Abu Sayyaf bandits, also bolted out of the jail.
Clad with sweater and apparently in good health, Bossi was presented yesterday by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, top police and military officials at the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional headquarters here.
Chief Supt. Jaime Caringal, police regional director in Western Mindanao, announced the recovery of Fr. Bossi Thursday night at around 9:00 p.m. at the national highway of Karomatan in Lanao del Norte province.
Caringal credited the successful recovery to Zamboanga City police chief Psupt. Manuel Barcena, who led the negotiations. "The recovery was made possible through the negotiations spearheaded by Police Superintendent Barcena."
The police official said Bossi has undergone the initial medical check up and found out in good physical condition. He added the priest will also undergo further thorough medical examinations and that debriefing will be done on him.
At the press conference, Bossi, the 57-year old missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), confirmed that Abu Sayyaf was behind his abduction since the incident on June 10 in Payao until his release.
"From the beginning, they (kidnappers) told me they were Abu Sayyaf and until the end (of captivity) they admitted and continued to say they are Abu Sayyaf," Bossi said, adding that kidnap for ransom was the motive for his abduction. “As far as I know they are looking for money. They told me to tell that they were looking for money as they were asking ransom."
He named Abu Kalid and Abu Jari as among his captors, but did not mention the brother of "Kumander Kiddie", a certain Waning Abdulsalam, believed to be arogue member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Abdulsalam together with Putot Jakaria, and Ogis Jakaria had been identified from day one of the kidnapping as among those who seized Bossi while on his way to Church in Payao for mass.
Authorities have filed charges in court against the suspects and warrant of arrests have been issued by judge in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay for illegal serious detention with robbery of one the kidnap victims.
Asked to recount his ordeal with the kidnappers, Bossi said: "I was treated well but the problem is the food. They always served me cooked rice, salt and vegetables in my breakfast, lunch and supper. That's why I lost a lot of weight."
Bossi was reportedly taken by his abductors to Basilan or Sulu, but denied being held captive in the said provinces. He said he heard two pumpboats docked in Karumatan and they were moving from one mountain to the others.
It is not known whether any ransom was paid, but the kidnappers had earlier asked for US$1 million including "board and lodging" in exchange for Bossi's safe release.
"Absolutely no ransom. We are still running after the kidnappers. This is unusual incident which requires tactic," said Secretary Puno.
Puno also disclosed the participation of a former mayor in Basilan in the effort to secure the release of the Italian priest. "The mayor (referring to ex-mayor of Tuburan Hadjarun Jamiri) was key in locating the area of Fr. Bossi."
Despite his abduction, the priest said he has no ill feelings with his abductors and that if his superiors would allow him to return to his parish in Payao, he would do and continues his mission for the people there.
"A priest is like a father and the father would like to return to his children. My heart is still in Payao.”
As Bossi was being flown to Manila Friday, 16 inmates, including four members of the Abu Sayyaf group escaped from provincial jail in Basilan, where the government forces are hunting down the beheaders of the 14 marines.
Sources from Isabela City in Basilan said the inmates sawed off the iron grills of their cells and among those who escaped were four members of the Abu Sayyaf, who had been arrested for various offenses.
The four Abu Sayyaf escapees were identified as Heting Askaline, Enteng Anjil, Abu Sampang, and Wakil Sampang. Other escapees were facing murder and frustrated murders charges and robbery with homicide as well as attempted murders.
The prisoners broke a window open with an iron bar and then using blankets and ropes to climb down, according to the source.
The incident was the second to occur in the provincial jail in Basilan province. In April 10, 2004, 53 inmates, including several Abu Sayyaf bandits, also bolted out of the jail.
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