text HADER GLANG
An Italian special envoy arrived here for talks withmembers of the inter-faith council of leaders on Saturday on effortsto free Fr. Giancarlo Bossi kidnapped almost a month ago in Payao,Zamboanga Sibugay, Southern Philippines.
Ms. Margherita Boniver, a prominent Italian lawmaker and veteran ofseveral humanitarian missions, together with Italian Ambassador to thePhilippines Ruben Fidele met a group of Muslim and Christianindividuals who composed the Silsilah Dialogue Movement.
Fr. Sebastiano D'Ambra, Silsilah president and a senior member of thePontifical Institute for Foreign Mission, and Ustadz Shariff Julabbi,former spokesman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and member ofthe Bishop Ulama Council of the Philippines led in welcoming Ms.Boniver and party.
"I'm extremely honored to be here and I was very touched from astatement that just read out. What I will do when I go back to Italy Iwill not only deliver to my government and to parliament but I willalso have to translate it into Italian and distribute it," saidBoniver after arriving at the Silsilah Center.
"I think it is an extraordinary document of love and understanding,although Brother Giancarlo Bossi has not been released yet. I do thinkthat a feeling such as this will be of tremendously help in order toobtain his (Fr. Bossi) release and also in order to console somehowhis relatives and friends back home," she said.
The Silsilah group issued a statement on the kidnapping of Fr. Bossito Ms. Boniver saying that, they, in the Inter-Faith Council ofLeaders of Zamboanga City are deeply saddened by the incident nearly amonth ago."We are concerned for his safety and his health,considering the circumstances which now surround him."
The statement furthered that Fr. Bossi is not a combatant in theongoing conflict in Mindanao and that he is a missionary priest, farfrom his home in Abbiaegrasso, Milan, Italy who is giving his life inservice to the people of Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay.
"We, as a group of Muslim and Christian leaders of different sectorsof society, who follow the spirit of Silsilah towards the attainmentof peace through dialogue, are committed to firm respect for the value of human life regardless of religion, culture and ethnicity, as taughtin our respective religions."
Invoking the teachings of the Holy books, the Qur'an and the Bible,the group asked those who held Fr. Bossi to keep him safe and releasehim immediately and also asked those who have information about thepriest to cooperate with the authorities working to find him andarrange for his release.
"We take this sad event as a new challenge for reflection and action,to invite all Muslim, Christian and Indigenous people of Mindanao tobe united for the common good of our people. We are in solidarity, insorrow and in prayer with the family, friends, the community of Fr.Bossi, the Italian people and all peoples of sincere hearts who workfor a better and peaceful world. It is our belief that those who dogood in the name of Allah/God will find favor in His eyes, and good will be given to them."
At a forum, Ms. Boniver said they have received or seen pictures ofFr. Bossi, which indicate he is alive and in good health. "But we donot know when exactly those images have been taken. We hope that they(photos) were taken in these very days as we don't have any kind ofinformation about that."
She thanked the Philippine authorities for the efforts it provided inthe search for Fr. Bossi while she expressed hopes that the effortscontinue in order to find out the priest location and who abductedhim, "especially the end result of bringing him back home safely shallbe pursued relentlessly."
Asked if the Italian government is willing to pay board and lodging,Ambassador Fidele replied: "This question has been post to me manytimes. But we don't know anything and we don't know what their requestis. We cannot decide in something that we don't know, but we can't payransom."
Meanwhile, the Italian official strongly denied having establishedcontact with kidnappers of Fr. Bossi. "No it is not the Italianauthority that to establish contact with the kidnappers of Fr.Giancarlo Bossi because this is the exclusive task of the Philippinesauthorities," said Boniver.
Adding, "it will be extraordinary if we should interfere with theinvestigation. That's not our job in any case we are notinvestigating. It does not mean however that there is nocollaboration."
She explained her brief mission here and the job, which the ambassadordoes in the Philippines everyday, testify to the fact the close,friendly and factual relations between the Philippines and Italy.
The lady Italian lawmaker also confirmed photographs showing Fr. Bossi looking thin and drawn have been sent to PIME almost a month after he was abducted in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay.
"We have seen photos of Fr. Bossi, who is in good health and goodcondition but we don't know exactly when those pictures have beentaken so we hope that they were taken in these days. So let's hope."
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