MANILA, Philippines – The proposal to grant amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf drew flak from various sectors yesterday as Malacañang said the move is “more unlikely than likely” to be considered.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita had said Malacañang would carefully study the proposal of Sen. Richard Gordon, who claimed to have information that some Abu Sayyaf commanders wanted amnesty and livelihood assistan
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“Apo, you are free,“ 62-year-old Italian Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni was told by his guards. It was 4 in the afternoon Saturday, July 11, just four days shy of the half-year mark since he was abducted by the Abu Sayyaf, along with two other Red Cross volunteers in Jolo, Sulu, a few meters from the provincial capitol.
“Apo,” or grandfather in Tausug, was what Vagni would be called by his captors. B
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MANILA, Philippines – Senator Richard Gordon on Monday slammed the giving of "goodwill money" to Abu Sayyaf bandits who freed Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni after nearly six months of captivity in southern Philippines.
"…Had I known [that money would be given], I would not have allowed it. Not one penny," said Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), in an intervie
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MANILA, Philippines – A provincial official in Sulu province on Sunday admitted that money changed hands for the release of kidnapped Italian aid worker Eugenio Vagni but denied it was for ransom.
Lady Ann Sahidulla, vice governor of Sulu province and lead negotiator of the Crisis Management Committee, said the P50,000 handed over to Vagni’s captors came from her pocket and that it was given “for goodwil
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MANILA, Philippines – After 179 days of being held captive in the dense jungles of Sulu, Italian Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni was overjoyed to see his family following his release by the Abu Sayyaf.
“I am the happiest man in the world,” Vagni remarked after he was reunited with his wife and daughter at the Villamor Air Base (VAB) in Pasay City hours after his release.
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Eugenio Vagni, the remaining International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) worker still being held in captivity by Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu, was able to call his wife Thursday evening, a Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) official said.
PNRC Secretary General Gwen Pang said that Vagni was able to speak to his wife over the phone at around 8:30 p.m. Thursday. She then confirmed with the PNRC that it was indeed
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An Italian engineer, the last Red Cross captive, is believed to have been abandoned by his kidnappers belonging to an Islamic militant group in the southern Philippines, the police chief said on Thursday.
The government has offered a reward of P500,000 ($10,256) for information on the whereabouts of 62-year-old Eugenio Vagni, who officials said has difficulty walking due to hernia, Philippine National Police chie
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A rubber farm worker kidnapped early this month in Lamitan City, Basilan province has been released by the Abu Sayyaf, police announced Tuesday.
Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar, Basilan provincial police director, said farmer Bernard Chavez was released by the bandits in Barangay Magcawa, Al-Barka town.
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Incoming search terms:Al-Barka Basilanalbarka basilanbasilan updateabu sayyaf pictu
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One of the two remaining Red Cross hostages was freed in Sulu Friday, a military official said Saturday.
Andreas Notter was freed Friday evening, Colonel Edgard Arevalo, spokesman of Task Force ICRC said.
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ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Six people who were reported seized by rebels on Friday in the southern province of Basilan have been reunited with their families, but two more are still being held hostage, officials said.
The duo – Cosme Aballes, 54, and Hernald Chavez, 22 – were taken captive by gunmen, who raided a farm in the village of Upper Arco in the outskirts of Lamitan City at around 6 a.m. Friday.
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Manny Pacquiao: Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao (IPA: /'pækjaʊ/; born December 17, 1978), known as Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao is a professional Filipino boxer. He is the former WBC li...
Arturo D. Brion: Personal:
Birthdate: December 29, 1946
Birthplace: Manila
Father: Edon B. Brion, retired RTC Judge, from San Pablo City
Mother: Laura S. Dizon, from S...
