Keep lifeline of communication open for 2 ICRC workers
The importance of keeping communications line open to ensure the safe release of the two remaining International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) hostages was stressed by
Independent Senator and Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Chairman Richard J. Gordon today.
Gordon, a governing board member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said there is a need to tread carefully in this extremely dangerous situation.
"At this point, talk is a lifeline in this extremely dangerous situation," he said.
"This is not a location shoot for a movie. There is no Take 2 if things do not turn out right," he added.
ICRC workers - Swiss Andrea Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba - were abducted by the Abu Sayyaf near the Sulu provincial jail in Patikul, Sulu last Jan. 15 after coming from a humanitarian mission.
Lacaba was released last Thursday after 77 days in captivity. But Notter and Vagni remain captive by the Abu Sayyaf.
Their captors have reiterated their demand for a large-scale military pull out or they would behead one of the remaining hostages.
Gordon stressed that it would be a great loss for the country if the Abu Sayyaf would carry out their threat to behead one of the remaining hostages.
"If the hostages are harmed, the door to life will be closed. The Red Cross and humanity will lose. But the loss could be even greater for our nation. Mark my word," he said.
The PNRC chairman also pointed out that he has a personal and institutional responsibility to ensure the safe release of his colleagues, hence his voicing out his frustrations on the military's way of handling the crisis.
"Ako ay may personal at institusyunal na responsibilidad na gawin ang lahat upang matiyak ang ligtas na pagbabalik ng mga nabihag naming kasamahan," he said.
"Kung ako ay nagpahayag ng pagkabahala sa gobyerno at sa patakaran o aksyon ng militar sa Sulu, ito ay dahil sa panganib na nagbabanta sa buhay ng mga nabihag naming kasamahan sa Red Cross," he added.
posted by Richard J. Gordon at 9:45 PM
4 Comments:
sen gordon,
pls stop grandstanding while taking advantage of the kidnapping issue. masyado ka na halata. i will not vote for you anymore.
4:15 AM
Haaaayyyyz. tama na ang grandstanding.. wala ka namang nagawa, naka perwisyo ka pa... wag ka na lang makialam kung di mo naman alam sinasabi mo... 10 municipality ? nakita mo na ba yung mapa ng sulu ?? you are the reason why Abu Sayyaf got away when the nooze has been tighten on them... because of your meddling, these 2 ICRC workers' blood will be on your hands...
Also please, YOU ARE DAMN SENATOR O F THE COUNTRY and not just a PNRC Chairman... kung mas importante sa iyo ang pagiging PNRC, please resign from being a Senator...
you've lost my family's vote...
5:58 AM
Three Marines dead and many wounded, three brave soldiers not going back home alot wounded soldiers going home traumatized for life and I don't see Gordon crying for them were are the tears?
I understand the ICRC's mission I understand their neutrality, and I really do appreciate their countless works and missions that helped a lot of people, people that lost all hopes of getting anything from government and I really laud their effort.
But this does not mean that once their personnel ended up victims or being held as hostages ICRC or PNRC VIP's (Gordon) can dictate the AFP's effort and the local crisis team in trying to pursue and negotiate with the terrorists. Gordon's media grand standing made me sick to my stomach and later made me fuming mad I now realize how low a politicians can go. Gordon's verbal tussles with other personalities and blame game just made the Abu sayyaf leadership more confident that they can get away with basically everything.
Sen.Gordon you are not fighting for the hostages safe release, you are prolonging their ordeal and thus prolonging the terrorists torment not only to the poor hostages but the civilian population as well. Your intention might be good but your actions betrayed your intentions. You are causing more harm than good when you cause undue pressure to the local crisis committee and the AFP, You think you are helping? No you are not, we people who are looking from the outside in and watches the event unfold view your useless grandstanding as part of a lousy circus act.
Why don't you go to Sulu and mediate yourself since you had been trying to forced upon our throats how you had "saved" the hostages from being beheaded and how you worked hard for their release, you are at the safe confines in your office sorrounded by your creatures of comfort.
Parad has you on a string so tight that when he sneezes in Sulu he can yank you by the neck and you start singing like a parrot, It is a damn shame he played you like that you became his "mouthpiece" so to speak you might not want to but you already are.
In the mean time the soldiers family mourn their dead, shed their tears and celebrate their life. I would like for you to shed tears on this poor soldiers too, these underpaid, ill equipped and over worked bastards. Who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice at a short notice. I would hope you will shed real tears for this poor fellow this time..
Thanks
9:41 PM
YOU SHOULD BE TRIED FOR TREASON- FOR DEALING WITH THE ENEMIES OF THE STATE IN THE GUISE OF HELPING PEOPLE, AND PUTTING THE INTEREST OF A FEW ABOVE THE INTEREST OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE!! TRAITOR!!
11:45 PM
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