Gretchen Barretto
Toni GonzagaProof of life: Vagni calls wife – PNRC
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 her husband whom she spoke with.
The couple talked for a few minutes, Pang said.
On Sunday, the Sulu crisis management committee, the group negotiating for Vagni’s release, reportedly lost contact with the kidnappers following the recovery of his colleague, Swiss Andreas Notter, last April 18.
Officials have earlier said that they believe Vagni is still in the general area where Notter was found.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno meanwhile also said earlier they will continue to coordinate with Islamic preachers in efforts to negotiate for Vagni’s freedom
Puno added, however, that authorities will also keep putting pressure on the bandits who reportedly have split up into four smaller groups.
A company of the police’s Special Action Forces has been deployed to help pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.
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