Residents evacuated ahead of rescue bid

Manila: Hundreds of residents were evacuated in preparation for a rescue operation to free an Italian member of the Red Cross from militants in the southern Philippines, a senior official said.

Social and health workers were mobilised to evacuate residents from Talipao, Jolo, to allow police and military to launch a rescue operation for Eugenio Vagni, who is still being held by the Abu Sayyaf group in a cordoned-off camp in Jolo, said Anthony Golez, spokesperson for the National Disaster Coordinating Council.

Several evacuation camps were established in Sulu.

"Residents were brought there so that they would not be affected by the rescue operation," said Golez, adding that food and medicine had also been stockpiled in the camps.

Contingency plans were drawn up to prevent collateral damage in the area where Vagni had reportedly been taken by the Abu Sayyaf, said Golez. He refused to give more details when asked about the exact location of the Italian hostage.

A source told Gulf News that the Abu Sayyaf had left a small contingent to watch over Vagni.

"The command in charge of the rescue operation has created another contingency group to go to the area where Vagni was reportedly brought at the height of the clashes between Abu Sayyaf and government forces last Friday," the source said.

A bigger joint police-military operation is pursuing the majority of the Abu Sayyaf members in the area.

"The rescue mission for Vagni is under way. I cannot divulge further details because I don't want to affect the conditions on the ground," explained Press Secretary Cerge Remonde at Manila's presidential palace.

- With additional inputs from Rafael Juan, Correspondent