Eugenio Vagni, a 62 year-old Italian national,  was abducted together with other ICRC workers, ilipina Mary Jean Lacaba, 37, and Swiss national Andreas Notter, 38.

They were seized January 15 in Patikul town after inspecting a water and sanitation project a prison facility.

The military says it knows where they are being held and has cordoned off the area of rugged jungle terrain on Jolo.But it has ruled out complying with the kidnappers’ demand that it withdraw troops from the island, and is reluctant to use force for fear of harming the hostages.

There are conflicting reports on whether the kidnappers are demanding a ransom.Tan said a man claiming to be Abu Sayyaf commander Al-Bader Parad called him to demand P50 million ($1.03 million), but Parad has denied this.

Related posts:

1. Kidnappers in Philippines Threaten to Behead Red Cross Hostage
2. 'I am the happiest man in the world' – Eugenio Vagni
3. Andreas Notter
4. Mary Jean Lacaba
5. Sayyaf rejects troop pullout; fate of ICRC hostages hangs
6. Emergency imposed on Philippines hostage island
7. Marines clash with Abu Sayyaf bandits
8. Albader Parad
9. Red Cross rejects $5-million Sayyaf ransom demand
10. Abu Sayyaf threatens to kill hostage despite Pope's appeal