KAPIHAN SA SENADO 6/25/09: On Vagni

ON VAGNI


Q: Update on Vagni

Sen. Gordon: Vagni, we have not heard of since June 7.. That was our last contact with him. The last contact with his wife was June 2. There have been fighting in that area. They kept shooting. They keep saying na nagbayad ng ransom ang Red Cross, hindi pwedeng magbayad ng ransom ang Red Cross. Tumakas si Notter, binigay sa amin si Mary Jean Lacaba. Pinangako naman sa akin ni Al Bader yan e. Binigay sa amin yan. Nakuha pareho ng Red Cross yan. Nung makuha na si Notter dahil nakatakas, palagay ko napahiya ang Abu Sayyaf. Tapos banat pa ng banat na may ransom. Ang balita ko nanghihingi na ng ransom ngayon. Balita ko lang, wala akong confirmation, whatsoever. Pero natutuwa naman ako na sinabi ni Sec. Puno na mag-uusap ulit, which is, I think, the right thing to do. I will treat this as a kidnapping affair, ang kidnappers kinakausap yan. Tumatawag sa telepono yan. Even if we consider these people terrorists, kapag nakipag-usap, kausapin natin kung makukuha natin para hindi tayo mawalan ng tao. Kung makukuha natin ng malinis surgically handled, go ahead. That is the duty of the Armed Forces. Pero kung hindi naman natin makukuha at ibibilad na naman natin ang mga sundalo natin, na yung baril, yung groove e kapos na, na hirap na hirap sa gamit. Kung hindi tayo sigurado ng husto, hindi naman ganoon ka-grabe yung sitwasyon wag na natin kunin dahil baka lalong grumabe pag namatay si Vagni. We will have egg all over our faces again.


Q: Proof of life

Sen. Gordon: Yung nag-usap sila, naka-usap niya yung asawa niya. Nakausap yung asawa niya June 2. June 7, nagtetext yung Abu Sayyaf.

Q: Condition ni Vagni?


Sen. Gordon: Same, bad shape. His hernia is not getting any better, he’s got high blood pressure and it’s the rainy season.

Q: Are you getting pressure from Geneva ?


Sen. Gordon: No, we’re in cooperation with them. One day, I’d like to show you the letters of commendation that the PNRC have gotten from no less than the president of the International Red Cross, which, by the way, was taken in the last meeting I had in Paris where they particularly mentioned this representation and the PNRC for the excellent way we handled the operation which resulted in the saving of lives.. Everywhere I go, in Europe or anywhere else, when I meet an ICRC, they have nothing but high praises for what has been done by the PNRC.

Q: Where did you get the information about the ransom demand? Any amount mentioned?


Sen. Gordon: From my own sources. There was a ridiculous amount mentioned. But since I did not get it from them, I don’t want to mention it.

Q: Noong pumunta kayo sa Geneva , Switzerland , tinalakay po ba itong kaso?

Sen. Gordon: Binanggit sa speech ng ICRC at binanggit ng presidente ng France si Sarkozy at ang sabi mabuti nakuha niyo yung dalawa, sana makuha niyo pa si Vagni.