The clashes between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Abu Sayyaf has already taken a lot of lives and DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno has made it clear that the government is ready to put a stop to their offensive if the Abu Sayyaf would only agree to talk with the government to facilitate the release of Italian Eugenio Vagni.
Vagni is a water-system specialist working for the International Committee of the Red Cross who was kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf last January along with two others. The group has already released one of the three kidnapped men while another one escaped their clutches last April. Therefore, Vagni is the only bargaining chip that they have left and Secretary Puno is intent on delivering Mr. Vagni safe to his family.
"We are willing to communicate with them for the purpose of finding a way where they can release the hostage without consideration of any kind or any monetary consideration," said Sec. Puno referring to the Abu Sayyaf.
Sec. Puno though maintained that the government is not losing the battle against the Abu Sayyaf thus the willingness to sit down and talk things over. "We want to put an end to the fighting, and the best way to do it is, of course, for them to immediately release Mr. Vagni," he said last month. He also warned that if the Abu Sayyaf will continue to take actions against the government despite the offer to talk, the AFP would be forced to continue operations. Of course, these operations would be conducted carefully in order to protect Vagni.
The latest contact that the Italian had with his wife was in June 26 when they talked for a few minutes. The government thinks that the calls from Vagni to his wife have been few and far between because of the group being on the run and not risking being tracked.
ICRC head of operations for East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific Alain Aeschlimann has this to say after Vagni's latest call to his wife: "Although Eugenio feels tired, he continues to show remarkable strength in the face of great adversity. His family is also displaying great stoicism."
While the Abu Sayyaf is not yet commenting on whether they would indeed agree to a talk between them and the government, the hope that they would consider releasing Vagni is high.
"We are willing to communicate with them for the purpose of finding a way where they can release the hostage without consideration of any kind or any monetary consideration," said Sec. Puno referring to the Abu Sayyaf.
Sec. Puno though maintained that the government is not losing the battle against the Abu Sayyaf thus the willingness to sit down and talk things over. "We want to put an end to the fighting, and the best way to do it is, of course, for them to immediately release Mr. Vagni," he said last month. He also warned that if the Abu Sayyaf will continue to take actions against the government despite the offer to talk, the AFP would be forced to continue operations. Of course, these operations would be conducted carefully in order to protect Vagni.
The latest contact that the Italian had with his wife was in June 26 when they talked for a few minutes. The government thinks that the calls from Vagni to his wife have been few and far between because of the group being on the run and not risking being tracked.
ICRC head of operations for East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific Alain Aeschlimann has this to say after Vagni's latest call to his wife: "Although Eugenio feels tired, he continues to show remarkable strength in the face of great adversity. His family is also displaying great stoicism."
While the Abu Sayyaf is not yet commenting on whether they would indeed agree to a talk between them and the government, the hope that they would consider releasing Vagni is high.
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