Press Release
March 16, 2009

Gordon airs serious concern over three ICRC workers' ordeal

Independent Senator and Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Chairman Richard J. Gordon today expressed utmost concern over the protracted ordeal of the three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers who were abducted more than two months ago.

Gordon aired his concern following a firefight between government forces and the group handling the ICRC workers where its commander Albader Parad and his aide were reportedly killed.

"We are perturbed about the plight of our three colleagues. We appeal to all parties not to be precipitate that might jeopardize or subject our colleagues to unnecessary risks," he said.

"We once again appeal to the group holding the three ICRC workers to release them unharmed as soon as possible," he added.

The three - Italian Eugenio Vagni, Swiss Andreas Notter, and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba - were abducted in Sulu last Jan. 15 after visiting a water sanitation project at the Sulu provincial jail.

After being notified of the abduction, Gordon immediately appealed to the group to safely and unconditionally release the three workers as he stressed that the PNRC and the ICRC maintain their "no-ransom-no-negotiation" policy.

Earlier reports claimed that Parad had been hit by a government sniper in Indanan after he and his men tried setting foot on an area being guarded by government troops.

Parad's group reportedly tried to break through the deployment of security forces in the area that triggered a firefight with government troops. Parad was reportedly hit twice on the chest about 10 a.m. Another bandit who tried to extricate Parad was also hit.

Gordon called on both the government and the group who are holding the three workers to make all efforts towards the safe and unconditional release of the workers.

"I appeal to all parties, notably the government and the group holding our colleagues, to move forward towards the early resolution of the incident," he said.

"To the group holding them, I urge you to think about who will help your town and the whole of Mindanao if the PNRC and the ICRC would be forced to stop their operations in Mindanao because our neutrality would be compromised should we negotiate for their release," he added.

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