World | Philippines
ICRC stops operations in southern Philippines after kidnapping
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has temporarily stopped operations in southern Philippines following the kidnapping of three of its workers.
- Agencies
- Published: 09:26 January 17, 2009
Manila: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has temporarily stopped operations in southern Philippines following the kidnapping of three of its workers.
ICRC spokesman Roland Bigler told GMA7 television on Saturday that the move is to allow them to "revisit and assess our security arrangements."
Bigler said the kidnapping on Thursday of ICRC workers Jean Lacaba, a Filipina, Andreas Notter, a Swiss national, and Eugenio Vagni of Italy was a "setback."
The ICRC team was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf gunmen on the island of Jolo. So far no demands have been made by the kidnappers.
The Red Cross said on Saturday that three workers who were kidnapped on a restive southern Philippine island were still alive.
"We have received reliable information that our abducted colleagues are alive," said Anna Nelson, a spokeswoman for the Manila office of the ICRC.
She declined to give other details, but Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, said they had "proof of life, but no demands, so far."
Thursday's abduction was the most high-profile kidnapping of foreigners since 2001, when Abu Sayyaf gunmen snatched nearly two dozen tourists from a resort.
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