ICRC HOSTAGE RELEASED TO VGOV SAHIDULLA (Apr. 03, 2009)

For 78 days in captivity by the Abu Sayaf Group, finally after serious negotiations Mary Jean Lacaba was released at around 7:30 pm last night to Honorable Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidulla.

Vice governor was contacted by Albader Parad, an ASG cell leader, earlier that they are going to release one of the three ICRC hostages.

Upon confirmation to free the hostage from Parad, the vice governor immediately went to Barangay Katian in Indanan Municipality and waited for the next move. Parad called up again and instructed the vice governor to meet them in an undisclosed area in barangay Langpas, Indanan. She then right away went to the meeting place and finally met Parad, “Doctor Abu” and the three ICRC hostages.

The two other remaining hostages according to the vice governor are well but look exhausted contradicting rumors that some hostages are seriously wounded if not dead.

ASG leader “Doctor Abu” personally told the vice governor that they will release Lacaba unconditionally without any ransom demand to show that they are sincere to their words and to finally open the negotiation with the government and publicly state their demand and concern.

According to the vice governor, the ASG demand that the military to pull-out in their detachments from the Municipality of Parang, Barangays Pasil, Kagay and Kuppong in the Municipality of Indanan.
According to Doc Abu, the main reason why they are after the military pull-out from the areas mentioned is to let them live peacefully without military intimidation and coercion so as to take care of their family, farm and livelihood in the area.

Doc Abu also stress that the alleged ransom demand of ASG which some political personalities speak is untrue and in-fact malicious whose purpose is only to obliterate them.

After a short meeting with the ASG, they turned over Lacaba to the vice governor. Lacaba and the Vice Governor went straight to 104th Brigade, wherein Colonel Eugenio Clemen- Commanding Officer 3rd marine Brigade, MGEN. Carlos Holganza- Head GHQ Camp Aguinaldo, General Feliziardo Serapio Jr. PNP Chief Superintendent DIPO- Western Mindanao, General Nelson Allaga- Commanding Officer of WESMINCOM, Colonel Andre Costales- Chief of Staff WESMINCOM, militaries, PNP are waiting at barangay Poblacion, Indanan Sulu.

At  around 10 O’Clock in the evening, Lacaba went through a medical and trauma check up at the G3 inside the brigade after which they proceeded to the office of the Task Force Comet for the briefings.

Early this morning, Vice Governor Sahidulla, Lacaba, Gen. Serapio, MGen. Holganza, Gen. Allaga arrived at Edwin Andrew Air Base and met with Senator Richard Gordon and the Family of Mary Jean Lacaba.

Lacaba was too emotional upon seeing her family and Senator Gordon. Vice Governor Sahidulla and Senator Gordon where very thankful and happy for this positive result, and hoping for the soonest and unconditional release of remaining hostages Andreas Notter and Eugenio Vagni.

Immediately after, Vice Governor Sahidulla, Senator Gordon, Lacaba and the group took the flight to manila for briefings.

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