Hostages in Philippines Say They're Okay

WONG:
Today's top story... good news from captive Red Cross workers in the Philippines. They spoke briefly on the phone and say they are all right. Here's more.

STORY:
Three workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross are still being held captive on a southern Philippine island after almost two weeks. They made a brief phone call to their office to say they were all right.

[Roland Bigler, Red Cross Spokesperson]:
"We have had contact by telephone with Marie-Jean, Eugenio and Andreas over the last 48 hours. They said that considering the circumstances, they are doing all right. Their voices sounded composed and calm, and we hope that this is a positive sign. From the International Committee of the Red Cross, we would like to repeat our call for an unconditional and rapid release of our colleagues.

The three were abducted in the town of Jolo on January 15 while on their way to a local airport and a few hundred meters from a prison where they had inspected a water and sanitation project.

Philippine security forces have been scouring the interior of the southern island of Jolo where the three are believed to be held by gunmen with links to the Abu Sayyaf, a small Islamic militant group.

Richard Gordon, a senator and head of the Philippine National Red Cross, says the agency is not aware of any ransom or political demands from the gunmen.

He also says the Red Cross is not involved in any negotiation for the release of the captives and the agency has had no direct communication with the gunmen.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• ntdtv
• news
• philippines
• hostages
• captive
• red cross
• workers

[69tugotstinots69]

ALL OUT WAR...drive those extremists, militants, radicals and freedom fighters out of the philippines...drive them to borneo and block the southern philippine borders from encroachment of islamic militants. KILL EM ALL... dont let the UN and HUMAN RIGHTS dictate you...they are not the ones affected by the philippines mindanao problem anyway. its up to the philippine military to solve internal problems like these. these militants are animals anyway why not kill them? why give them interviews?

[strangebrewrats]

my friend, it's all about the money.... some piliticians are making money for this....

[rhoneyist]

money speaks louder than words . . . . try not to use media and they cant do anything . . . . politicians and military alike . . . . different dogs same collar . . . .

[redelsoncoolseven07]

hahahaha...good news~!