ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- An Islamic scholar says the absence of a ransom demand suggests kidnappers of Italian Father Giancarlo Bossi may have other "agenda."
Kidnappers may "want to impress the government that they have still their arms or strength to face the government in confrontation or in battle," suggested Alim Elias Macarandas. The member of the Tripartite Commission of the Bishops-Ulama (Islamic scholars) Conference spoke with UCA News by phone from Marawi City, 805 kilometers southeast of Manila. His remarks on June 22 came 12 days after armed men seized Father Bossi near his parish in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay, west of Marawi City.
Macarandas described the kidnapping is an "insult" to the government. The abductors "want to show that they are not under the control of the government," he said.
"First, I condemn that kind of action," the scholar declared, adding that "no one will benefit" from the kidnapping.
On the other hand, Macarandas, who is also president of the non-governmental Philippine Muslim Welfare Society, said the "entire Filipino community is the victim of this kind of incident." He added that "psychologically, socially, economically" it has negative implications and effects, both locally and internationally.
The abductors of Father Bossi, a Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) priest, are "projecting" the Philippines as a "troubled country," with "no peace and order," he continued. The consequence is that foreign governments will be "discouraged from working with us."
The Muslim leader pointed out that whether or not the kidnappers have a political agenda, "it is not the right way of expressing their sentiment or their grievances against the government."
PIME Father Peter Geremia also expressed concern about the "unclear" reason for his confrere's abduction when he spoke to UCA News on June 22. "There is no clear identification of the group who took him and no assurance that he is still alive, and there is no demand for ransom," he pointed out.
The Kidapawan-based American priest said the abduction of the Italian missioner raised questions about "who is behind this" and their motive. Father Geremia pointed out that even Father Bossi's family does not know whether this is a "case of (kidnap for) ransom."
The PIME regional house in Zamboanga City, 850 kilometers southeast of Manila, issued a statement on June 21, saying there has been "no communication from the captors or anyone who can verify his condition."
The PIME statement asks: "Who are these captors and masterminds? Who is behind this drama, why don't they declare their purpose? Why are they playing with the life of a person and religious leader serving the people in a remote area?"
The statement, released to media, says the government claims to be using all its resources in the search for the missing priest, while the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) also declared that it has access to various armed groups in the area. But on June 21, the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) mandate between the MILF and the government expired.
AHJAG, created on May 6, 2002, is a group of military and MILF representatives designated to "isolate" and "interdict" kidnap-for-ransom groups, rogue or "lost command" rebel units and other criminal elements operating in Mindanao, the southern Philippine region.
On June 22, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said in a television interview that despite the expiration of the AHJAG mandate, their line of communication to the government is "open." He stressed: "What is primary here is the life of Father Bossi. We are committed to achieve in whatever way we can (his) safe and early recovery."
The MILF, currently involved in peace negotiations with the government, was established in 1977 to fight for creation of an Islamic state.
On June 21, Marine Major General Benjamin Dolorfino, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines National Capital Region command, told Manila reporters that the expiration of the AHJAG mechanism is "definitely a setback."
Without an official mandate, he explained, the military will "refrain" from communicating with their MILF counterparts, since "it might result in untoward incidents" for which the military could be held "liable."