Gordon applauds swift rescue of 2 Abu Sayyaf kidnap victims

Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) today applauded the successful rescue operation conducted by security forces in Talipao, Sulu which resulted in the rescue of two non-government organization (NGO) workers abducted by the Abu Sayyaf. Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), said it is timely that the two workers of the Alliance for Mindanao for Off-grade Renewable Energy (Amore) gained their freedom on the eve of June 12 or Independence Day.

"The civilians and the Task Force Bandit should be commended for the successful and swift rescue of the two abducted workers," he said.

"We are hoping for more operations like this so that all the other victims will also gain their freedom," he added.

Reports said security forces rescued Aspin Giminsil, 39, and Kadspar Abduhasan, 22, both workers of Amore, who were snatched in Upper Kabuntayan by Abu Sayyaf extremists under Mukambiyan Sakilan.

The civilians alerted Task Force Bandit, which immediately conducted rescue operations that resulted in the release of the victims around 9 p.m. on Thursday.

Gordon also renewed his appeal for the release of Italian Eugenio Vagni, the last, out of three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers abducted last Jan. 15, who remains in Abu Sayyaf hands.

"We are appealing for Vagni's release. He is seriously ill. Our colleague has not harmed anyone, he was only there to do humanitarian projects. Vagni should be released soon," he said.

Vagni and two others, Mary Jean Lacaba and Swiss Andreas Notter, were abducted after inspecting a water sanitation project in a Jolo jail. Lacaba was released last April 2 and Notter on April 18.