Eugenio Vagni free. Missionary: Mindanao still dangerous
Manila (AsiaNews) - Eugene Vagni, the Red Cross volunteer, kidnapped six months ago in the southern Philippines, was released yesterday evening. According Fr. Angel Calvo, a Claretian missionary from the Peace Advocate Zamboanga organization, which has closely followed events leading up to the release, says yesterday there where a series of false alarms right up until 10 pm (Manila time), when they received confirmation of his liberation. Fr. Calvo says that the situation in the southern Philippines, Jolo and Mindanao, remains very tense, dangerous and insecure. " According to the missionary, is not at all sure that the group of kidnappers belonged to the terrorist organisation Abu Sayyaf. Nor is it certain that a ransom was not paid.
Vagn is now in Manila in the Italian Embassy and well. He was abducted on January 15 in Jolo, where he was visiting a project supported by the Red Cross, along with two other volunteers, the Philippine Lacaba Mary Jean and Swiss Andreas Notter. Lacaba was released almost immediately, instead Notter was abandoned in the forest, while the Philippine military hunted the group of kidnappers. There were fears for the health of 62 year old Vagni, who suffered from hypertension and a hernia. Another concern was the continuing threat by the kidnappers to kill him if the military attempted a blitz.
In June last Benedict XVI had called for the release of all abducted persons: One of those he mentioned was Eugenio Vagn. In recent weeks the army had surrounded the area where Vagni was held captive and threatened a blitz, feared by the kidnappers. The Italian government strongly opposed the move.
Vagni's release came about with the removal of the army from the area and in exchange for the release of two wives of one of the leaders of the Islamic group, author of the kidnapping.
The Italian Foreign Ministry has ruled out paying any ransom. Fr. Calvo says that it remains "unclear" whether a ransom was paid, "and maybe" we “will never know".
The identity of the group of kidnappers is also unclear. The media talk of an Islamic group linked to Abu Sayyaf, the terrorist organization that has links to al Qaeda, but the missionary is sceptical. "In the zone - he says - there are many armed groups that operate autonomously in controlling pieces of territory. They do not respond to a central organization and do not seem to obey the central Abu Sayyaf in Jolo. "
The missionary warns: "The situation here in the southern Philippines and Mindano is still very dangerous and insecure, the central government and civil society are unable to take control. We must do something. We need more security forces, but also justice and to find ways of dialogue and agreement with all these groups, be they ideologically driven or not. "
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