ZAMBOANGA CITY, 11 November 2004 — Bandits freed Italian aid worker Andrea Cianferoni yesterday as a result of concerted efforts by the government, separatist rebels and local Muslim leaders in the southern Philippines.
Cianferoni, who works for the international non-government organization Movimondo, was freed on a remote village in Kauswagan town of Lanao del Norte province at around 10 a.m., just a day after he and two companions were seized in the same town.
The kidnappers, described as Kauswagan-based bandits, freed his two colleagues with instructions that they wanted a 240,000-peso ($4,263) ransom for his freedom, according to the military. His Filipino colleagues were reportedly freed after paying about 60,000 pesos ($1,066).
The government did not say if any money was paid for the Italian’s freedom.
“He is free man once again. Andrea was freed by his captors after a successful negotiations by political and religious leaders,” Lt. Gen. Orlando Buenaventura said.
Negotiations were led by Mayor Mamintal Dimakuta of Tagoloan town, Officials said Dimakuta has many relatives in Kauswagan.
Local Movimondo head Vincenzo Pira had been quoted as saying the kidnappers demanded a small amount of money in exchange for the safe release of the Italian aid worker.
The military said, however, that pressure from both the military and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MLF) helped led to the victim’s early release.
“We received information that the kidnappers were not able to get away because they saw (on TV) that the MILF were operating in the area and looking for them,” said Col. Benjamin Dolorfino, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade based in Iligan.
Dolorfino said the negotiators’ work was made easier with the help of MILF guerrillas, who blocked the kidnappers’ escape route.
‘Shoot-to-Kill Order’
As the Armed Forces of the Philippines sent troops to cordon off possible escape routes of the kidnap gang, MILF forces were sent to go after the kidnappers with “shoot-to-kill” orders.
“MILF fighters are ordered to shoot-to-kill the kidnappers if they fight back. They must immediately release the Italian hostage,” MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu told Arab News hours before the Cianferoni’s release.
He said MILF forces in the area have already identified two of the kidnappers as Asmad Limbo and Alim Muti, both residents of Kauswagan town.
Other rebel sources said the MILF threatened to kidnap the families of Limbo and Muti if they did not free the Italian hostage at once.
Lanao MILF commander Hadji Abdulla Macapaar, alias Kumander Bravo, said his followers had been told to go after Limbo and his followers. Macapaar said Limbo’s group wanted to make money and decided to abduct Cianferoni. “We will get them. Lanao is a small area,” he vowed.
He did not say what the MILF would do with the kidnappers once they are arrested. In the past, the MILF put criminals on trial before the rebel group’s version of an Islamic court. Those guilty of the crimes they were accused of were either sent to MILF prisons or faced firing squads.
The MILF and the military have a standing agreement to jointly run after bandits and extremists in Mindanao as a confidence-building measure in support of negotiations for a peaceful settlement of decades of fighting.
Still Staying
The bearded, 29-year-old aid worker appeared haggard after his ordeal and was later flown to Manila, where he was met by relieved Italian Embassy officials.
“It was a bad experience. Fortunately, it was a very short experience. We have to thank a lot of people,” he told reporters, adding that he was still willing to return to Mindanao.
“I am not sorry that I stayed in Mindanao. It is a really beautiful place, except for this incident,” he added.
He described his relief at seeing a Filipino aid worker walking toward him ahead of a group of officials who came to negotiate with his kidnappers. “That was the first friendly face I saw in 20 hours,” he said.
Vincenzo Pira, the local head of Movimondo, said they would continue working in the southern Philippines despite the kidnapping. Two other Italians are working for the local Movimondo.
The government said the Italians had been working in Mindanao for the past two years and many of their projects benefited mostly poor Muslim communities.
Funded by donations from the European Union, the Italian government, the United Nations and wealthy benefactors, Movimondo engages in health care, humanitarian aid, job creation and skills training in poverty-stricken areas.
Mindanao has long been plagued by the kidnappings for ransom of locals and foreigners by armed groups often linked to separatist guerrillas.
In October 2001 former MILF rebels seized Italian priest Guiseppe Pierantoni but he was freed six months later after negotiations and allegedly in exchange for ransom.
The most notorious group of kidnappers however is the Abu Sayyaf, branded terrorists by Washington and Manila. (Additional input from INS & agencies)
